Pakistan mangoes may miss US market again
Since the mango export season is only a few weeks away, exporters are concerned about the loss of the potential market, which some say is the responsibility of the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) and the Ministry of Agriculture.
"Authorities' disinterest is providing space to India which has access to the US market, to have a firm foothold and make Pakistan's entry difficult," said an angry exporter.
Chief Executive Officer Harvest Tradings, Ahmad Jawad said he had requested the Ministry of Commerce to prioritise lifting non-tariff barriers for US market access. As the existing protocol of irradiation in the US is too expensive, "what we want is a level playing field and Pakistan government must try to get us the same... approvals that were given to Indian mango exports to the US," he said.
The export target, last year, for mangoes had been set at volumetric 150,000 tons but exports fell short by 23 percent, as the exported quantity of Pakistani mangoes was only 135,000 tons. Similarly, while exporters expected that selling mangos overseas will bring dollars 50 million to the country, the actual revenues were only dollars 39 million - 22 percent less than the original target.
Source: brecorder.com
