Despite mango production being ramped up by 30 percent, Pakistan has failed to tap the huge markets in Japan and Australia due to what sources says is the lack of a viable Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT) facility in the country.
Though both foreign countries have expressed interest in importing the delicacy from Pakistan if quarantine conditions are fulfilled by exporters from Islamabad, the export of mango has not started this year as the country is yet to invest in appropriate infrastructure. While the export of the important fruit started last month, the quality issue of local mango remains outstanding and hampers export to various lucrative markets including Japan and Australia. Though a little quantity of mango is being presently exported to China, the world famous fruit is yet to make a visible impact in foreign markets.
It is worth mentioning that Japan approved the entry of Pakistani mangoes last year, provided that they undergo VHT testing before they are imported into the country. VHT uses hot saturated water vapour to heat the fruit slowly, treating against possible pests such as fruit flies.
But an investment of around $2.5 million was required to install the facility in the country, sources pointed out. Though, under the signed agreement between the two countries, the required plant would be imported from Japan, in the absence of the demanded facility, it is not possible for exports to begin. According to sources, a negligible quantity of mango was currently being sent to Japan for testing and treatment purposes in order to examine how the quality standards in the foreign country could be met to commence exports. Sources in All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) said that the association was coordinating with the concerned authorities in the country to examine the functionality of a plant made available by Japanese government to Pakistan in 1999.
However, the plant was of limited capacity and was unable to process large quantities to Japan as clearing quantities in terms of kilogrammes. It is planned VHT trials will begin this month with the arrival of Japanese inspectors. Despite the inherent limitation and insufficient capability of the plant, it will ensure the start of mango exports during this season, sources said.
Sources in PFVA claim that once the trial has been made and approval granted, different varieties of Pakistani mangoes will be sent to the embassy of Pakistan in Japan by early July. Limited quantity of mangoes will be sent to Japan for promotional purposes. The commercial department of Pakistani embassy in Japan will be in charge of marketing and distributing the mangoes.
On the other hand, Pakistan was also interested to have VHT plant, the phyto-sanitary requirement of mango, at Tokyo’s port, as Islamabad lacks the facility to start mango exports during this season.
Without the VHT facility, Pakistan, while ensuring the quarantine requirements for packing place in order to prevent invasion by the group of oriental fruit fly species, would not be able to export mango to Japan.
Earlier a Japanese agriculturists’ delegation belonging to foreign country’s renowned agriculture cooperative organization (JA) had assured the concerned authorities in Islamabad that the best quality of Pakistani mangoes would reach Japanese markets from the next season.
The understanding made by the two countries, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan was to investigate inspect and to test of machine before allowing the import of mango. The quarantine officials would also thoroughly investigate and inspect the plant facility and the machine performance besides conducting an inspection on building facility, process flow of operation and the packing facility.
Besides, Japan, Australia was another country which has also shown its intention to import the juicy fruit while making an announcement to change its regulatory policy to accommodate the import of mango from Pakistan.
Australia had last year announced the commencement of a non-regulated analysis of existing policy for import of mangoes from Pakistan.
However, the Pakistani side which was to arrange the visit of an inspection team Australia to verify the data provided to it by the Islamabad and inspect the farms and production areas here, was yet to do the job even after lapsing the whole year.
The relaxation in the regulatory policy was made by Australia after it was noted that the issue of mango quarantine and pest issue was also present in the case of India, Taiwan and Philippine where no such restrictions were in place in the import of fruit, the sources said. The only condition which was set by the Australian government was the removal of quarantine issue before starting import of mango from Pakistan. The issue was also to be addressed through installing a VHT plant of international standard in the country. According to sources, the issue of VHT plant was also raised during the previous visit of President Asif Ali Zardari to Japan but no progress has so far been made.
The VHT facility, they said, was not only needed to have captured the lucrative markets in the two foreign countries but it was also important to tap various markets across the country.
It is worth mentioning here that the country was likely to enjoy almost 30 per cent growth in the production of mango this year with the expected production of almost 1.7 million tonnes. This rise will help Pakistan export mangoes worth $48 million.
The 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.
