Pakistan exported around 201,000 kilograms (kg) of mushrooms with a total export price of $12.930 million in 2016. Not only was the increase in the value of mushroom exports higher but mushroom exports also contributed over 25 percent to the overall vegetable exports of over $101 million the same year.
The global mushroom production, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization's statistics, was estimated at 4.99 million tons in 2016, with the major producers being China, with 60 percent production, followed by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain and others. Chairman Mann-O-Salva, Pakistan Private Limited, who are the pioneers for the cultivation of mushrooms commercially in Pakistan, are not only meeting the demand of the local market, but also earn foreign exchange by selling fresh and dehydrated mushroom to Europe and America. The export market rate in the Canadian stores was $14 for a kilogram against our cost of $4.
Mateen Siddiqui, Chairman of the Fruits, Vegetables Processors and Exporters Association, said mushroom exports helped boost overall vegetables exports.
"There is a huge export market around the world, some private sector companies export thousands of kilograms, grown in Swat at a lucrative price of over $1,000 for a kg." he said.
