Although exports of mangoes to different countries of the world is in full swing, an appalling decline of up to 95 percent has been noted, so far, in mango exports to the European Union from Sindh. One of the main reasons being the indifferent attitude of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Sindh towards the suggestions of Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) to cooperate in ensuring meeting quarantine requirements of European Union to avoid ban similar to the one imposed by EU on import of mangoes from India.
NFS&R and Department of Plant Protection (DPP), Government of Pakistan are working over time these days to avoid any mishap because once the ban is imposed by the EU it may take at least five to six years to undo it. Co-Chairperson, All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association, (PFVA), Waheed Ahmed told Business Recorder here on Monday that Federal Minister, NFS&R, Sikandar Hayat Bosan had regretted, during the seminar held in Multan recently, that Sindh Government had not responded to his letters written in connection with the latest warning by the EU and measures that should be taken to ensure fruit fly free mango exports to EU.
The lethargic approach by Sindh Agriculture Ministry would hurt the growers as only those orchards which are registered with DPP would be allowed to export mangoes to EU. So far only 10 orchards have been registered with DPP. The last date for registration is June 15.
As against Sindh Agriculture Ministry's indifference, Punjab's Agriculture Ministry is going all out in co-operating with DPP and NFS&R to increase its exports of mangoes to EU by strictly adhering to the sanitary, phyto-sanitary and quarantine guidelines. Waheed Ahmed said the seminar held in Multan had marked an epoch in the development and up-gradation and in creating awareness about the existence of fruit flies and other diseases. It was attended by officials, growers, traders and other concerned persons to benefit from the deliberations and enhance their exports. Nobody from Sindh, he regretted, attended the seminar which could have brought immense benefits to the stakeholders.
Pakistan Horticulture and Development Company (PHDEC) which should have played a major role in the present situation has belatedly held field training at different areas of Sindh including Khipro, Mirpur Khas, Matiari and Tando Allay Yar to improve the skills of mango growers under the Australian aid funded ASLP-II Mango Value Chain Improvement Project. The field trainings were conducted by Dr Muhammad Amin, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Sohail Ayyaz, Project Development Officer, ASLP, Lemon Kumar and Gul Bahar, Sindh agriculture department.
The main focus was on pre and post harvest handling of mango fruit and fruit fly management and control techniques. Participants were provided training on orchard canopy and floor management, fruit fly control and management of various free diseases. Comprehensive training was provided on best practices to ensure quality and competitiveness in domestic and export supply/value chains. Similar workshops have been scheduled in Punjab during the third week of June.
The Agricultural Sector Linkages Programme (ASLP), which is a joint Australia-Pakistan programme, was launched in December 2006 titled "Optimising mango supply chains for more profitable agri-enterprises in Pakistan and Australia". Project targeted post-harvest, marketing, supply chain and capacity building elements of Pakistan mango industry by working at demonstration level with all members of the supply chain, as well as R&D providers and government agencies. This project was reviewed mid-term in 2008 and was officially completed in March 2010. The mid-term review identified considerable positive progress against project objectives and milestones and recommended that it be extended into a second phase over four years from 2010 to 2014. Phase-2 project that has resulted from review recommendation is titled "Mango value chain improvement."
Project team comprises an excellent group of post-harvest and marketing scientists from Pakistan and Australia. Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) and University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) are the implementing partners from Pakistan while the Australian counterpart organisations include University of Queensland (UQ); Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI); and Department of Agriculture & Forestry, Western Australia (DAFWA). The project aims at addressing key constraints currently limiting the efficiency, effectiveness and competitiveness of supply chains for Pakistan mangoes. The specific focus will be to continue to develop and improve domestic and export value chains, focusing on following parameters; delivering better quality fruit to consumers, developing and improving markets and demonstrating value chain principles.
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