Pakistan to get US irradiation unit to boost mango exports

Pakistan will obtain a US irradiation unit for the treatment of mango in a bid to boost the fruit’s export, Chief Executive Officer Harvest Trading, Ahmad Jawad, said on Tuesday. Irradiation is a process to preserve food items by using radiations. Presently, the fruit has first to be transported to Lowa city in the United States for the treatment, Jawad said. Growers and exporters of mango on Tuesday called for evolving a marketing strategy involving Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) to capture new markets. “The United States is one of the biggest importers of mangoes produced globally with a share of almost 44 percent and Pakistan has great potential for boosting its to that country”, Jawad said.

He said that Pakistani mangoes are famous world over for their sweet flavour with more than 40 different varieties, it is the world’s sixth largest producer. But unfortunately less than only five percent of the cultivated crop is exported, he added. Jawad said that currently, the Middle East was importing 65 percent of the total produce and it can be enhanced by extended efforts and facilities to the growers. The Harvest Trading has also been in touch with the private sector in South America to set up relationships and persuade their embassies to let them import Pakistani mangoes, he added.

On the other hand Indian mango exporters are losing ground to their Pakistani counterparts in the US market. The exports of this exotic fruit from India, which started in 2007 is seeing a continuous decline over past three years, he added. Data shows export of mangoes from India to US declined by 13.4 percent in 2009-10 at 175.40 tons from 202.64 tons in 2008-09. In 2010-11, export saw a steeper decline of 22.1 percent at 136.70 tons.

Source: thenews.com.pk