The federal government has agreed to invite agriculture scientists and horticulturists of world repute to find the solution to mango orchard disease "Quick Decline" and "Mango-Midge" which had badly hit the orchards in southern Punjab. The government has also planned to set up a mango-pulp processing plant in Multan with the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at a cost Rs 150 million.
It was stated by Mango Growers Association (MGA) President Syed Zahid Hussain Gardezi while addressing a Press conference here on Sunday along with Salim Khan Alizai, Nasrllah Khan Tareen, Muzaffar Hayat Khakwani, and others.
He said that another meeting with the federal government is expected before Eid-ul-Azha in Islamabad, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Livestock (Minfal) has designed an extensive but long-term planning on mango uplift.
He said Minfal has also decided to prepare a review report within 15 days for setting up a mango research station and constitution of a high-level powerful committee to prepare proposals for soil degradation and proper fertilisers usage.
Gardezi said the minister took very serious notes of mango problems pertaining to production and marketing and he asked official concerned for consultation with foreign experts in this regard.
He said the minister has promised that funds of research organisations would be allocated and spend collectively on research work, particularly to combat the mango diseases, and assured of engaging full time experts committee on mango diseases and its working procedures to be finalised in a workshop.
Gardezi said the MGA delegation under his leadership comprising Major Syed Zahid Ali Bokhari (Retd), Muzaffar Hayat Khakwani, Nasrullah Khan Tareen, and Salim Khan Alizai informed the minister that Pakistan was losing its world credibility due to lack of better research, quality and substandard packaging.
He said Pakistan stands at sixth number in the world as compared to past when it stood at third number after India and China, adding thousands of mango trees have become dead due to chronic disease of 'Quick Decline', which is required extensive research on this particular issue.
Gardezi said the MGA members expressed their concern over continuous delay in establishing Agriculture Export Reprocessing Zone in Multan, and urged the minister for promoting mango pulp industry in Multan. The minister told the delegation that the government was talking with a multinational to introduce drip irrigation and the government would provide drip irrigation technology on easiest package, he added.
Gardezi said the minister directed the concerned sections for swift implementation upon the decisions and holding a workshop on these issues to finalise recommendations.
He said the MGA delegation also met with the Privatisation Commission Director-General Mansoor Zubair, who assured the delegation that fertilisers prices would not be raised after the privatisation of fertilisers units.
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