Pakistan has exported around 45,000 tons of mangoes till June 30, 2009 which is almost double of the quantity exported previous year during the same period. Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB) has fixed an export target of 100,000 tons of mangoes this year (2009 season), and keeping in view the present exports figure, the Board is hopeful that it will achieve this target.
PHDEB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shamoon Sadiq, while talking to Business Recorder here on Monday, said, "If things go smooth they hope to get 50 million dollars through export of mangoes this year." Talking about various initiatives taken by the Board this year for enhancing export of horticulture products, especially mangoes, Shamoon added that he had recently visited Germany to explore market for the export of mangoes. He said, "Germany has a great potential for Pakistani mangoes provided our farmers and exporters fulfil their requirements such as GlobalGap and other certain certifications."
He said importers from Germany had assured him that if their requirements were fulfilled there would be no issue in buying mangoes from Pakistan. Shamoon said during his visit to Germany they had received two orders out of which one party wanted almost two tons of mangoes per week and other needed more than that.
It may be mentioned here that according to the Mango Development Strategy devised by PHDEB for the current year, they had the plan to target new markets such as China, Jordan, Germany and USA.
"In the long-term, PHDEB has set itself a mango export target of $80 million by the year 2011-12. Although there is a huge potential to capitalise the high end markets, but this would only be possible if we can comply with quarantine requirements of the importers, which means adapting quality standards throughout the supply chain." "An important component is to establish required infrastructure such as packing houses with Hot Water Dip facilities and cold storage at production areas."
He said on the compliance side, PHDEB had already initiated EurepGAP programme both in Punjab and Sindh. "This year PHDEB plans to expand this programme to bring maximum mango orchards under GlobalGAP scheme, which will ultimately support in enhancing mango exports to the higher end markets," he added.
It was expected that 3,000 acres mango orchards would get GlobalGAP certification in Punjab and 2000 in Sindh. While three awareness seminars on SPS, one in Sindh and 2 in Punjab would be held.
The adoption of GlobalGAP standards had indicated that the possibilities for development of indigenous commodity specific standards for either local or export marketing should be initiated, he said Initially the PakGAP standards would be developed in consultations with relevant organisations/certification bodies, Shamoon concluded.
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