Mango festival: At a festival of mangoes, possibility of new markets emerge

110 varieties of mangoes put up on display.

Pakistan does not produce just a few kinds of mangoes. Punjab and Sindh alone are home to over a hundred varieties of mangoes.

Mango lovers had a field day on Sunday as 110 varieties of mangoes grown in Punjab and Sindh including Chaunsa, Doseri, Langra, Anwar Rathore and Sindhri were put on display at the Punjab Mango Festival 2012 at a local hotel, said a press release issued by the Punjab government.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Ishaq Dar, who inaugurated the festival, quoted Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as saying that the festival will give access to mango growers and exporters to international markets and also help introduce other agriculture items from Punjab to the world.

Dar, who was reading from a prepared statement on behalf of the Punjab CM, said agriculture items from the province are being introduced to international markets and the effort made by the provincial government for the uplift of the agricultural sector have also been appreciated internationally.

He said that Punjab government wants to introduce food items, vegetables and fruits of the province in the world and showcased 22 items at the International Green Week in Berlin, Germany earlier this year with the aim of entering European markets.

Dar said that Punjab Mango Festival --- which was arranged through collaboration between the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade, Agriculture Department and the Rahim Yar Khan City District Government --- will open up new avenues of trade for mango cultivators and exporters as well as creating opportunities for increased fruits production in the province.

Punjab Board of Investment and Trade Vice Chairperson Dr Mufta Ismael, Punjab Agriculture Secretary Mian Mushtaq, diplomats and mango growers were among those in attendance.

Senator Dar said by arranging the first exhibition of mangoes in the country in Islamabad, the Punjab government has gathered mango growers, exporters and buyers under one roof and has therefore taken an effective step to promote mango exports to international markets.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr Ismael said that the government is giving a Rs22 billion annual subsidy on tractors, improvement of irrigation, tunnel farming and brick lining of waterways.

Agriculture Secretary Mian Mushtaq said the purpose of holding the mango festival is aimed at promoting awareness among foreign diplomats, international institutions and local and foreign traders regarding the production of different varieties of mangoes in the province.

He said that Global Gap Certification is being obtained for 1,350 mango orchards in the province by linking them with 30 suppliers.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2012.