'VHT plants vital to increase mango export'

Fruit fly remains major deterrent in export of mangoes and as such the setting up of VHT plants in mango growing areas in the country is imperative to exploit the export potential of mangoes. This was observed by fruit exporters, while speaking at the seminar on the problems of mango exporters in marketing their fruits and fruit products in international market. Pakistan mango production during 2003-04 recorded at 1034.6 million tons of which less than 1/10th of production was exported.
The reason for limited export and poor price was the white fly syndrome and not availability of VHT plants. At present, the Pakistan mango despite high quality, flavour and taste is getting US $.292 per ton, while the Indian mango is getting a price of US $.476 per ton.
Syed Zahid Ali, a leading fruit exporter, said: "There are no less than 10 countries, which are importing mangoes and after processing and value addition re-exporting mango products with their product name at higher rates."
This fact could be judged by the export price of these countries. USA 1074 dollars per ton, Netherlands 1057 dollars per ton, Philippine 1163 dollars per ton, Belgium 1265 dollars per ton, Spain 1415 dollars per ton, France 1622 dollars per ton Australia 2281 dollars per ton.
He said the US consumes 40 per cent of the world production of mango but Pakistan failed to create a market for its mango. He said India has already set up a VHT processing plant and its export has been increased manifold.
OTHER REASON: He said the other reason for limiting the export could be the harvesting of mangoes before physiological maturity stage by the contractors of the mango orchards.
He said an MoU has been signed with China and Iran when they approved water treatment plant but the USA and other countries, such as Japan, are more conscious of quarantine regulations and as such they will not agree to import Pakistani mango unless world agriculture standard were met.
Later, the experts discussed in details the diseases of mangoes and their possible treatment. Horticulture specialists M.H.Panhwar and his spouse Ferzana Panhwar emphasised the need for rejuvenation.
They pointed out that at present, mango orchards of Sindh and Punjab were being badly affected due to a new disease namely "Verticillum Wilt" initially causing damage to the roots of mango trees and then its trunk, branches, leaves and yields respectively.