Mango yield : Production lower this year

MULTAN:

Urbanisation, prolonged winter, fog, intense dust storms and rains are the main causes of low yield of mangoes this year, said former Mangoes Growers Association president Muzaffar Khakwani.

“Mango production has reduced to half compared to production last year, which is why the fruit is available at higher rates in the domestic market,” he said. “Also for the last four to five years, exports have been slashed between eight to five percent.”

However, Khakwani was hopeful that the commencement of flights by Emirates and Qatar Airlines from Multan International Airport (MIAP) will boost exports from southern Punjab.

Khakwani who has been associated with mango farming for the last 23 years informed that Federal Minister for National Food  Security  and Research, Sikandar Hayat Bosan last year engaged Federal Department for Plant Protection to make standard protocol for exporting the best quality mangoes.

Regarding other reasons behind the lesser production, he said that the inflorescence and fruit setting were comparatively fewer which is why pollination could not take place.When contacted, Director Mango Research Institute Director Dr Hameedullah said the mango  production had been a mere 40%. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th,  2015.

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