Low supply: Windstorm damages Multan mango crop

MULTAN:

Mango prices may be high in the domestic market as compared to last year due to high input costs and a recent windstorm, according to Multan Mango Growers Association President Major (retired) Tariq Khan.

The windstorm on Thursday evening damaged over 20% of the crop, revealed Khan.

He said mango production this year was estimated at 1.2 million tons as compared to last year’s production of 1.7 million tons. “Total production was already expected to be 40% less than last year.

The recent windstorm has further dented it,” he added. “High prices of inputs including fertiliser, oil and pesticides, coupled with the water shortage, have created immense problems for growers,” he reiterated.

To a query, he said as yet there had been no outbreak of any disease in the orchards. He demanded that south Punjab be exempted from taxes as the storm had caused huge losses to growers.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2012.