Nations unite in Baoshan for future of mango industry
A vendor sells mangoes on a street in Karachi. Mangoes are plucked raw from trees then packed in crates with a sachet of calcium carbide to ripen them on way to the market. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Experts from nine nations, including China and Pakistan, converged in Baoshan city, Yunnan province, for the Second Annual Meeting of the South and Southeast Asia Mango Network on August 29 and 30. The conference aimed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing in mango research and technology, bolstering the regional mango industry.
At the event, delegates exchanged insights on the latest advancements in mango research and industry practices, showcasing their research findings and experiences from their respective countries. Vice President of the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YASS), Gong Jiashun, bestowed membership certificates upon network participants, recognising their contributions to the regional mango sector. He expressed optimism for a thriving future for mango enterprises through sustained cooperation.
The experts concurred on the need to expand cooperation, underscoring joint research projects, capacity enhancement, and collaborative publication of scientific outcomes. The cooperative effort aims to tackle shared challenges faced by the mango industry, including the scarcity of superior varieties and issues related to quarantine pests.
Hosted by YASS, the “Belt and Road” South and Southeast Asia Crop Regional Science and Technology Innovation Institute, and the South and Southeast Asia Agricultural Science and Technology Joint Research Centre, the two-day event was themed “Exchange and Cooperation for Green Development.” Its purpose was to propel advancements in technological innovation, talent development, and sustainable growth.
Launched on September 29, 2021, the network encompasses 21 member units from countries such as China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Iran, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. The establishment of this collaborative regional mango research organisation marks a noteworthy stride towards shared mango research and development.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2023.
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