The Trade Development Authority Pakistan (TDAP) seeks to improve the export of quality mangoes to increase its share in the global high-end market.
To this end, TDAP has initiated mango bagging under a pilot project in Pakistan’s two main mango-producing districts in Sindh and Punjab.
It seeks to ensure uniformity in size, colour and fruit shape to have premium quality mango with cosmetic appeal.
Around 10 farms have been selected in Sindh’s districts and 15 in Multan, where the project is underway. Unripe mangoes are bagged in a few lower-Sindh mango farms of progressive mango producers in Tando Allahyar.
Markets such as the EU and the UK offer higher profitability but only through compliance with international standards
“Apart from the traditional industries, there are sectors that have huge scope for export, and agriculture is one of them. The government will benefit from increased foreign exchange, and growers from better profitability if the quality of the mango is ensured”, opines TDAP secretary Dr Farid Iqbal Qureshi. He refers to last year’s mango export to Kazakhstan which fetched $36 million.
TDAP has provided paper bags which were porous in nature. Owners of selected farms are supposed to use them to protect mangoes against insects and abrasion, thus preserving their cosmetic value. The bags serve as physical barriers for fruit flies as well.
These are one of the many social compliances and certifications needed for accessing formal high-end markets in the European Union, United Kingdom etc. In contrast, Pakistani mangoes mostly end up in Middle Eastern countries’ ethnic markets. The share of exports in total exports is less than six per cent, which could be enhanced, TDAP official says.
“We do not generally comply with the standards of formal markets abroad. The unavailability of efficient and supportive infrastructure is another stumbling block to enabling mango export to supermarkets, as 70pc of the customers in the EU and the UK buy fruit from these markets.
“We have to first ensure mangoes are healthy, disease- and pest-free with lesser cosmetic issues if we aim to grab high-end markets although the opportunity is wide open for us,” says Mahmood Nawaz Shah, whose farm was selected for bagging mangoes.
He appreciates that TDAP is intervening in the horticulture sector and hopes this would payoff to improve fruit exports to desired destinations.
“Growers avoid getting certifications because of the higher fee structure. As they get an equal return in the market, even after being certified, they see no reason to acquire it. To encourage them towards exports, TDAP, to begin with, may absorb part of the certification fees as a subsidy,” he says.
He says the infrastructure at airports is not supportive towards facilitating the export of quality mangoes to high-end markets.
