Mango exports target way off mark

Poor packaging and hygiene standards major barriers

ISLAMABAD: Falling exports and their prices remain one of the major concerns for businessmen and the government alike. The issue became so important that the prime minister called a meeting with trade and industry representatives on Friday last week to discuss the challenges and search for a solution.

Mirroring the difficult time for varying export products, the country is going to miss the mango export target this year again as it has managed to ship about 62,000 tons so far against the target of 120,000 tons.

The primary reason, experts say, is poor arrangements to meet the demand of international clients by complying with packaging and hygiene standards.

For the previous year, the mango export target was 90,000 tons, which was not achieved. This year too, it seems impossible to reach the goal because of the slow pace of exports. However, shipments will continue until mid-October.

Statistics show so far around 62,000 tons of mangoes have been dispatched to different countries as opposed to 72,439 tons in the corresponding period of last year. In the current season, the highest volume, estimated at 30,680 tons, has gone to the United Arab Emirates compared to 39,645 tons in the same period of last year. This is followed by exports to Iran which has received 12,843 tons compared to 9,955 tons last year whereas Oman is the third largest importer purchasing 5,770 tons against 11,900 tons in the previous year.

To European nations, mango exports from Pakistan have increased from last year’s 4,132 tons to 5,964 tons this year. Among these markets, the United Kingdom is a major importer with 4,161 tons against 2,318 tons last year.

However, no significant rise has been recorded in shipments to other European Union member states – the dismal performance is blamed on poor packaging and hygiene standards followed in Pakistan.

Below par quality

“The export of Pakistani mangoes to the international market fell because of low production and substandard quality following rains and thunderstorm in fruit-growing areas at the outset of the season,” said an officer in the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

However, horticulturists and exporters dismiss this reason, arguing mango exports have a very slim share in total production of the fruit and any fall in output has nothing to do with shipments to overseas markets.

Pakistan produces, on average, 1.7 million tons of mangoes per annum and this year output has come down by 150,000 to 200,000 tons. Exports constitute only 4% to 5% of the total production.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board Chairman Fawad Ishaq pointed to inadequate number of hot water treatment plants, which dealt with fruit flies, for the weakening exports as many countries were wary of the insect-infested fruit.

However, he said, Pakistan had not received any major complaints from its clients, adding the horticulture board was considering establishing more hot water treatment plants with latest technology in all major cities to meet the demand of importers.

“We expect a significant increase in the export of mangoes once these plants are established in more cities and start running at full pace,” Ishaq said.



Seeing a significant potential for mangoes and kinnows, he voiced hope that exports would increase substantially in the next five to seven years.

The horticulture board has also constituted a committee for the development and promotion of Pakistani fruits. “We are going to take assistance from the academia and will engage fresh graduates for research and development,” Ishaq said.

Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Horticulture Committee Chairman Ahmad Jawad held the Department of Plant Protection, which is associated with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, responsible for the lower demand for mangoes overseas.

Neither the department had sufficient hot water treatment plants nor it had adequate staff for a speedy inspection of consignments, he said, pointing out that only two approved treatment plants were operating in the country, which were not capable of coping with the demand.

The writer is a staff correspondent

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

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