'Pakistan's mango production reduced by 30 percent'
Climatic change has posed serious challenge to the production of mangoes this year.
(Web Desk) – Mango export will commence from May 20, 2019 and 100,000 metric tonnes export target has been set for this year.
However, climatic change has posed serious challenge to the production of mangoes and this year 30 percent significant reduction was observed.
In the light of recommendations proposed in the ‘Horticulture Vision-2030’, tough challenges can be dealt with an effective development of the national policy regarding the sector, according to Waheed Ahmed, the patron-in-chief of the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA).
According to Ahmed, Pakistan’s total production of mangoes is about 1.8 million tonnes, however due to severe impact of climatic change, 30 percent reduction has been witnessed by the season.
Now, it is anticipated that the total production of mangoes this year would be around 1.2 million tonnes.
Severe storms, unexpected heavy rains and hail storms have caused damage to the mango crops in Sindh, which contributes about 10 percent and in Punjab, which produces 35 percent, of the production.
The PFVA patron-in-chief has asserted that in order to achieve the export target, it’s imperative that besides favourable season, the support and cooperation from shipping and airline companies, quarantine department, the ANF, customs and other concerned departments would be required imminent.
“With the increase in prices of petroleum products, the cost of domestic transportation and logistics have also been revised upwards, combined with the devaluation of rupee, the freight charges have been raised by airlines and shipping companies.
Thus, making it even difficult for the exporters to remain competitive in the international markets,” Ahmed elaborated.
“Last year, 75,000 tonnes of mangoes were exported, and the country is anticipated to earn foreign exchange of $80 million US dollars by exporting 100,000 tonnes this season.”
“China and USA, in particular would be focus of attention for an additional export volume this year while special mango promotion campaigns would also be conducted in the European Union,” he mentioned.
“With reduction in number of flights this year from Pakistan, announced by the Emirates Airline, it would further multiply problems of mango exporters,” Waheed deplored.
He expressed concerns that no clear and well-defined policy has been designed to safeguard the agriculture and horticulture sectors from these threats.
“No policy has been formulated for the betterment of this sector,” he added.
“The pressure of inflation has mounted, due to substantial reduction in production of crops, which leads to financial losses,” he said.
Keeping these major challenges in view, PFVA formulated policy for the rapid development of Horticulture sector termed as “Horticulture Vision - 2030 (HV-2030) which proposes short, medium and long-term solutions and the required road map.
