Favourable growth conditions and improved productivity is likely to spur a 30 percent rise in mangoes production this year. Cumulative mangoes production is, thereby, forecasted to stand at 1.7 million tonnes. This rise will also help Pakistan export mangoes worth $48 million.
This was stated by the former Chairman of All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) Waheed Ahmed on Sunday. He said that export of mangoes will start shortly and will continue till mid-September. He was confident that export target of 1.75 million tonnes will be achieved this season. Pakistan had failed to achieve the 1.5 million tonnes target last year, while total export stood at around 1.35 million tonnes. This, Waheed said, was result of a loss in production mainly from Punjab. Besides the bumper crop this year, illegal export mainly through land routes and high freights charges could hamper mango exports, he said, adding that the rise in freight rate had also swelled the production cost.
Talking to Pakistan Today, he said that demand of mangoes from the European countries had also increased, while other countries like Russia, Japan, USA, Poland, Ukraine and Australia demanded around 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes of the country’s mangoes. However, Pakistan’s honey mangoes failed to make their debut in Japan and Russia due to a lack of funds to install VHT and radiation plant. While criticising the government’s apathetic attitude towards promotion of mangoes export, the former PFVA chairman said that authorities at the Karachi Port were also involved in unnecessarily stopping containers. This, he lamented, caused losses to exporters.
Meanwhile, sources said the government’s indifferent attitude at Iran’s cry regarding illegal export of mangoes from Pakistan may also spell severe financial repercussions on fruits’ export of the country. In view of the emerging critical situation, exporters had been apprehensive about the future of their exports, as Iran is regarded as a valuable market in terms of prompt payment for imported fruits. Mangoes are also cultivated in Balochistan and NWFP; however, the fruit is mainly grown in Sindh and southern Punjab. Mirpur Khas and Multan are noted for their huge mango gardens.
