Australia allows import of Pakistani mango
It may be recalled here that the Australian market is regarded as very rewarding and allowing the import of any fruit from across the globe may spell a bright future for the growers and exporters alike.
With prospects of $4 million worth of market for Pakistani mangoes over next five years period, Pakistani exporters have also been enjoying three more lucrative markets including South Korea, Mauritius and Japan, which are also considered as very rewarding in terms of the expected high price they offer for fruit and high volume of the fruit.
According to All Pakistan Vegetable and Fruit Exporters Association (APVFEA) Chairman Waheed Ahmad, for the last two years intense visits were carried by the quarantine exporters and other stakeholders from Australia to different Pakistani processing factories and local quarantine to review the situation thoroughly.
The Australian delegations also visited hot treatment plants and laid special emphasis on the hygienic situation in processing factories and granted permission for import of Pakistani mangoes after being fully satisfied with the prevailing situation.
He said that Australia itself is a major mango-producing country but the season starts during November and December regarded as Summer season and before this allowing import of Pakistani fruit offers a great opportunity to Pakistani exporters to capitalise the occasion and help the country earn invaluable foreign currency which the country badly needs at this crucial juncture.
However, to ensure continuation of the export process to Australia during coming years special focus is required on improvement of fruit shape and appearance and introduction of new varieties which can only be accomplished through rigorous research and development (R&D) process at the farm level which is unfortunately not the focus of attention of all stakeholders in the country.
Without improvement in quantity of the export material, opening of the new market may not yield desired results as envisaged by the exporters celebrating the opening of the new lucrative market.
Barring few markets across the globe, majority of the consumers in different countries across the globe regarded as rewarding market are preferring fruit fine in appearance while any fruit lacking in their set standard and quality are out rightly rejected by such consumers which is a set back for exporters.
Replying to a query about major problems during export process to Australia, he said logistic problem is there as high tariff rates push overall cost of the fruit. There is no direct flight to Australia from Pakistan and this results in enhanced cargo rates for the export material.
Source: www.dailytimes.com.pk