Multan exports 10,000 tons of mangoes

Higher output can be exported if necessary steps are taken, say growers.

MULTAN: Commenting on massive export of mangoes, President of the Mango Growers’ Association Maj (retd) Tariq Khan has said that 10,000 tons of mangoes were exported from Multan alone last season. He said that with more support from the government mango export can achieve new targets.

He claimed that if the government had on board an appropriate mango export policy and the ministry of food and agriculture paid special care to the orchards, mango yield can earn one billion dollars revenue from export. However, he pointed out, the government has been too negligent in this sector.

Simply by starting cargo flights from Multan airport direct to the exporting country, mango exports can be increased to 20,000 tons. He stated that he had requested the government to arrange for this facility.

Khan said with government encouragement, South Punjab can yield much higher mango production. He added that the government should build storage houses and make the supply chain more user-friendly.

Zahid Gardezi, a leading mango farmer from Multan, shared with the audience that there was no proper marketing at the provincial and federal level. Similarly, there is no guidance available to the farmers to sell their mangoes in international markets. Individual farmers are doing everything on pesonal level as doing this properly is only possible for big landlords. Gardezi specifically praised the US government for providing useful guidance.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2013.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.