USAID continues to support market linkages for Pakistani mango growers

The US continues to support Sindh mango growers through US Agency for International Development (USAID) as farmers send another round of shipments of popular Sindhri mangoes, worth $0.25 million, to the Netherlands, United Kingdom (UK) and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
A total of 13 consignments, carrying 106 tons of Sindhri mangoes were shipped to the buyers that include Univeg, Special Fruit, and Fair Fruit in the European Union (EU) and KSA.
“Shipments of premium quality mangoes sent to high-end European and UK markets have materialized from an intensive identification process, creation of market linkages, and participation at international events such as the Fruit Logistica in Berlin. We are expecting our partner SME farms to generate $6.8 million in revenues from these shipments this summer,” said a project representative.
These are in addition to the USAID assisted shipments, worth $ 0.12 million, which were sent to the EU earlier in the month of June. These shipments are a direct result of USAID’s support to the mango SMEs in establishing on-farm processing facilities, provision of technical trainings and helping them achieve international certifications, such as Global GAP and HACCP, which are a prerequisite for exporting to the global market.
USAID’s strategic interventions in supporting Pakistan’s mango sector have increased the overall sales and export revenue by $20.5 million since its inception in 2009. The USAID supported SME mango farms exported $5.8 million worth of mangos in 2012 that represents a 107 percent increase from the previous year and 488 percent increase from the baseline year of 2009. These interventions have also provided employment to more than 2,500 people.
Total sales from USAID supported SMEs in fresh mango sector are expected to increase by an additional USD 3 million by December 2014. USAID, through its firm project is also supporting progressive SMEs in the dried mango, fruit and vegetable pulping value chains in Punjab and Sindh. These interventions are expected to increase the sales revenue of supported SMEs by $1.2 million.
The United States sees Pakistan’s prosperity as good for Pakistan, good for the region, and good for the United States: trade and investment are the future of the US-Pakistan relationship.