USDA agrees to import Pakistani mango

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has agreed to allow import of mangoes from Pakistan after proper irradiation to eliminate quarantine pests, said chief operating officer, Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB), Muhammad Iqbal on Friday.

He said the board has devised a comprehensive plan to produce quality mango and citrus fruit to meet international standards. Mohammad Iqbal met members of the Multan Mango Growers Cooperative Society Limited (MMGCSL) to discuss issues pertaining to the functioning of the Cooperative Society and to formulate systematic modalities to develop mango industry in the country. Babar Bajwa, Manager Technical PHDEB, also accompanied him.

Talking to the members of the executive committee of MMGCSL the chief operating officer of the board said that PHDEB has underpinned the formation of a Cooperative Society both for mango in Multan and citrus in Sargodha. He said it would now promote Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) to enable growers to produce quality fruit in line with the global demands.

Muhammad Iqbal said that members of the Cooperative Society would be guided to refine their agricultural practices for attainment of EUROGAP and other certifications. He said the society would be encouraged to export their produce on self-help basis, adding that there has been a global practice to work collectively.

He appreciated the Mango Growers Association Pakistan (MGAP) for highlighting the problems of the growers. Bajwa said that government of Pakistan has succeeded in convincing USA to allow export of Pakistani mango to USA.

He said PHDEB is establishing two irradiation plants in Lahore and Karachi and will arrange visit of the members of MMGCSL to see their functioning. He said that PHDEB would also arrange briefing for all mango growers by those who have visited Singapore and Australia on study tours to learn from their experience.

The meeting was attended by MGAP president Syed Zahid Hussain Gardezi, Khizer Abbas Bukhari, Muzaffar Hayat Khan Khakwani, Nasrullah Khan Tareen, Ghulam Fareed Khan, Saleem Khan Alizai, Maj (R) Tariq Khan, Ansar Jamal and Mehr Maqbool Jangla. Speaking on the occasion, Syed Zahid Hussain Gardezi, MGAP president, lauded government’s attention to the horticulture sector, especially mango.

He said that global connoisseurs of fruits have acknowledged the superior aroma and taste of Pakistani mango and that it’s appropriate time to equip mango growers with latest technology for mango harvesting, grading and packing.

Source: thenews.com.pk