Representatives of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) joined the local government officials and mango farmers to inaugurate a new mango processing facility at the Zarpak Horticulture Products Farm in Multan. This technology, installed with USAID support, will significantly improve the farm's ability to export high-quality mangoes around the world, says a press release issued here on Thursday.
"The United States government is strongly committed to economic growth and the creation of employment opportunities for the people of Pakistan," said USAID Director for Pakistan Andrew Sisson. "Through projects such as this, USAID is helping Pakistanis to adopt new technologies, develop work force, find new markets and ultimately, earn more revenue."
The new mango processing line, installed at the Zarpak Horticulture Products Farm, enables the farm to ship large quantities of quality mangoes to Europe, the Far East, and the Middle East by sea, significantly reducing the cost of transportation compared to air shipments. The two farms that have installed USAID-supported equipment last year have already increased their productivity by 15 percent. This year, eight more facilities have been completed and are operational. An additional three will be fully operational by September 2011.
"We could not afford modern machines," said a farm worker. "Thanks to the American people, we received not only the latest machines, but also learnt how to operate them. Now we can do better work, earn more and have a safer work environment," they added. Infrastructure upgrades and increase mango export swill lead to increased revenues, profits and employment boosting the economies of Southern Punjab and Northern Sindh, the release concluded.-PR