While the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R), Department of Plant Protection, and All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) are up jointly to stall European Union's warning to stop the import of mangos in case fruit flies are detected, Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) which should have been in the forefront in meeting this challenge is lying dormant and criminally silent over the issue.
Indeed, it is a major issue which should have engaged the attention of the PHDEC to save the exports of mangos, an important foreign exchange earner, to 27 countries of the EU. Not only that, no measures have been taken so far to ensure the export of mangos to the high end market of United States. Whereas India followed US Department of Agriculture's guidelines which enabled it to enter that high end market, Pakistani mangos which are in great demand have not been able to make way to that market as no facilities have been established here yet to meet the sanitary, phyto-sanitary and quarantine requirements of Department of Agriculture.
Pakistan is the fifth largest producer and eighth largest exporter of mango in the world, according to a 2011 FAO report. Our mango is being exported in large quantities (about 83,029 tons in 2010-11) to Europe and the Middle East. According to the Federal Board of Statistics, Pakistani mango export volume (2011-2012) was 85.11 thousand tons valued at 36.66 million US dollars.
Average export of Pakistani mango during the last five years was 80,370 tons. Although Pakistan produces around 1.8 million tones mango annually but the export volume has been very low (4-5% only) of the total production, as it is facing multiple serious challenges in international markets.
Ahmad Jawad of Harvest Trading told Business Recorder that mango export is decreasing mainly due to unreliable cool chain system, low transport capacity, poor packaging materials, and lack of processing technology. Recently, 14 processing plants (HWT) have been installed by USAID funding. However, these are still inadequate to properly quarantine pest mitigation. "Controlled temperature, proper packaging and transportation in reefers improve freshness of mango and its shelf life," he said.
If we look at the things in international scenario, in last three years, over 1.1 million tonnes of mangos has been traded internationally each year. Parts of the mangos were traded by importing countries. If the import of all countries is added up, there is an annual import of 1.5 million tonnes with a collective (C&F) import value of $1.9 billion.
Holland plays an important role in the trade. Globally, Holland is the second largest importer of mangos. But almost 80% is re-exported. Holland comes fourth in the list of mango exporters.
Interestingly, Holland is an important centre in the EU mango trade. Last year, a total of almost 150,000 tonnes was imported, but of this, 110,000 tonnes was re-exported. Similarly Mexico, Brazil and Peru are the most important exporters. After Holland, China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are the main importers of mangos. The Gulf States as a group are a grouping market with an import of 245,000 tonnes. Jawad said that the important growing markets for mango sales are the United States and the Gulf States as well as Canada, UK and Russia.
It's high time that Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) lay down detailed marketing strategy in consultation with the Ministry of Commerce for the export of mangoes to different destination for the next 5 years. Then only we may be able to en-cash this crop properly. We must keep in mind that in exports, creating linkages are most important otherwise one cannot achieve desired results.
Source:- brecorder.com
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