LAHORE: The Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) distributed about 70,000 bags in Sindh and 80,000 bags in Multan among the progressive mango growers for the season 2024 to enhance the fruit quality and appearance.
The mango bagging initiative began as a pilot project in 2023 with the distribution of 150,000 bags in Sindh and Punjab, which received positive feedback.
This mango bagging technique, widely practiced by mango-producing countries, has proven highly beneficial. It enhances the fruit’s visual appeal, reduces the need for pesticides, and protects against insects and pests, including fruit flies, which are quarantined concerns. Ultimately, it improves overall fruit quality.
Sources in the PHDEC told Business Recorder that the distribution of bagging is one of the many initiatives taken by the PHDEC to improve the quality and appearance of mangoes to enhance their popularity among the importing markets.
Dr Javed Iqbal, a Senior Scientist from the Mango Research Station (Shujabad), discussed mango orchard management and the benefits of mango bagging for yield and quality recently at a seminar organized by the PHDEC at Mango Research Institute (MRI) Multan. His presentation covered the maturity indices of bagged fruit and stressed the importance of harvesting only mature fruit for optimal quality. Dr Iqbal also highlighted the commercial advantages of mango bagging, such as reducing post-harvest diseases and damage, preserving fruit colour, decreasing the need for pesticides, and protecting against pests like fruit flies. He recommended a bagging duration of 30-45 days and provided detailed post-harvest management practices.
The seminar was aimed to educate farmers, processors, and exporters, enhancing their understanding of best practices and technologies. Experts discussed standard harvest, post-harvest handling, processing, and packing procedures in detail during the seminar.
Despite being the world’s fifth-largest mango producer with an annual production of about 1.8MMT, Pakistan exports only 6-7% of its fresh mangoes. The bagging initiative seeks to boost exports by improving fruit quality, making Pakistani mangoes more competitive in high-end international markets.
Athar Hussain Khokhar, CEO of PHDEC, a speaking at the seminar underscored the importance of the pilot project and stressed the need for collaboration with stakeholders to improve mango quality, increase market share, and enhance exports to premium markets.
Keynote speaker Abdul Ghaffar Grewal, former Director of MRI, opened the session with an in-depth presentation on managing mango orchards in the context of climate change. He highlighted the importance of protecting the mango plant’s stem from sun exposure, detailed the irrigation cycle’s role in minimizing fruit drop, and emphasized post-harvest care for next year’s yield.
Dr M Amin, Associate Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at IUB, detailed harvesting, post-harvest handling, and processing methods. He explained de-sapping techniques and shared SOPs for hot water and vapour heat treatments. Dr Amin also discussed the maturity indices for Sindhri, SB Chaunsa, and White Chaunsa varieties, highlighting their role in proper ripening and extending the shelf life of mangoes.
Nasir Aleeq, Secretary of Agriculture for South Punjab, and Raza Salik, Director of MRI, appreciated PHDEC’s initiatives, expressing optimism about the positive impacts on growers and Pakistani mango exports.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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