MINGORA: The dealers have started transporting red persimmons of Swat to fruit markets in different cities of the country in a huge quantity.

According to fruit dealers, red persimmon is the third biggest fruit produce of Swat which is transported to different cities of the country in a huge quantity.

`Orchards of red persimmons spread over 2,000 acres in Swat that produce over 2,500 tons persimmons,` said Fazal Maula, an agriculture extension officer.These orchards not only produce huge quantity of red persimmons but also provide job opportunities to the local people.

`I regularly transport red persimmons to different fruit markets like Rawalpindi, Lahore, Hyderabad and Karachi,` said Ajab Khan, a truck driver in Barikot. He said that due to variety of fruit orchards, he did not spend a single day without working throughout the year.

`I carry apples, peaches, apricots, plums, cherry and red persimmons to different fruit markets. I am happy that Swat produces every type of fruit, which in turn provides work opportunities to many people,` said the driver.

The orchards provide work opportunities to many locals as some work as fruit pickers, some as packers and other as loaders.`I work as a loader and get handsome amount as daily wages. I am glad that we have so many fruit orchards in our area which are the source of livelihood for poor people like me,` said Izhar Ali, who was packing red persimmons in boxes.

The owners of orchards said that owing to lack of government`s interest and support to the growers of red persimmons, the number of the orchards was decreasing.

`Trees of red persimmons require more water than other fruits but there is not enough water in many areas. We have requested government to construct water channels but it does not take interest in it so gradually orchards of red persimmons are decreasing,` said Iqbal Ali, the owner of an orchard.However, officials in the agriculture extension office said that the office provided support in form of trainings and consulta-tions to orchard owners. They said that they were encouraging the orchard growers to dry the red persimmons for better benefits.