Islamabad, Jan 5: Pakistan’s leading fruit and vegetable exporter, Shahid Suntan, has ventured into the mushroom industry, making significant strides with a $6 million investment aimed at promoting mushroom production in the country. Through his initiative, Suntan has pioneered industrial mushroom production, with his SunGold Mushrooms farm now standing as the largest such farm in Pakistan, complete with its own spawn production lab and state-of-the-art facilities.
Suntan explained that his goal is to promote “Made in Pakistan” globally and contribute to the growth of the mushroom market. He highlighted that while many modern farms produce mushrooms, SunGold’s capacity stands out, with an annual production rate of 2000-2500 tons and a daily output of 3-4 tons. Despite the mushroom market being valued at $66.53 billion globally in 2024, Pakistan’s share in this sector remains minimal.
The mushroom industry has seen impressive growth in recent years, expanding from $61.33 billion in 2023 to $66.53 billion in 2024, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5%. As part of his vision, Suntan plans to reduce the country’s mushroom imports by increasing exports, aligning with his broader objective of export substitution.
Suntan emphasized the importance of investing in emerging agricultural sectors like mushrooms, especially as Pakistan grapples with business and industrial challenges. He pointed out that mushroom cultivation, locally known as “Khumbi,” is still in its nascent stages in Pakistan, and the sector’s development is hampered by insufficient public and private sector support, especially due to the high infrastructure costs involved.
Echoing Suntan’s optimism, Ahmed Sultan, Chairman of the Indonesia and Pakistan Business Council (IPBC) and a leading figure in the palm oil industry, acknowledged the massive potential of the mushroom business in Pakistan. He emphasized that mushrooms could play a vital role in diversifying Pakistan’s exports, helping the country tap into the global economy and generate significant foreign exchange in the coming years.
