Mango crop: Output may fall 30% as virus hits Sindh fields

Growers expect a good harvest in Punjab.

KARACHI:

Production of mangoes is likely to post a decline of 30 to 40 per cent this year, as orchards spread over thousands of acres in Sindh have come under different viral disease attacks.

The situation was reported to be serious in Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Matiari, Naushero Feroz, Sanghar and Umerkot districts, according to a press statement issued by Harvest Tradings on Friday. However, a large area has been cleared to prevent the spread of disease.

In Sindh, mango is cultivated on around 56,000 hectares, with annual production of around 390,000 tons, said Harvest Tradings CEO Ahmad Jawad. He suggested farmers to ensure proper irrigation and balanced use of nutrients for their crops as 2011 was considered very important for mango exports.

On the other hand, Jawad said Pakistan is likely to exceed its mango export target due to favourable weather over the past few months, adding the growers are expecting a good harvest in Punjab.

Authorities have set an export target of 140,000 tons, while exporters are expecting shipments to be more than 165,000 tons this season.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2011.