Pakistan’s agri-food sector heavily relies on a narrow range of exports, with rice as its leading commodity, generating over $3.5 billion in foreign exchange in FY24. However, rice exporters are increasingly facing rejections from the EU, UK, and US due to food safety concerns. Specifically, pesticide residues and mycotoxins (aflatoxins) in Pakistani rice shipments have surpassed those from India in triggering alerts, highlighting urgent food safety challenges.
The rice value chain involves farmers, stockists, millers, and exporters, with widespread issues such as improper pesticide use, premature harvesting, and inadequate drying methods contributing to high levels of contaminants. These practices not only fail to meet international standards but also jeopardize market access and consumer safety. Efforts to enhance awareness, improve agricultural practices, and strengthen regulatory frameworks are crucial to mitigate these risks and sustain Pakistan’s rice exports.
Khalid Wattoo, a farmer and development professional, along with Dr. Waqar Ahmad, formerly an Associate Professor at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, have emphasized the need for urgent reforms to safeguard both export revenues and public health.
