Pakistan unable to export mangoes to United States and Japan

Pakistan unable to export mangoes to United States and Japan

Wednesday, May 9, 2012: Pakistan may have to knock at some other door, as there are chances that the country won’t be able to export its mangoes to US and Japanese markets, two of the most lucrative markets for the product.

Despite initiatives taken by the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to introduce Pakistani mangoes in US and Japanese markets,
export of the fruit to these countries remain unlikely this year because of the lack of a well-equipped fruit treatment facility in the country.

Pakistan is also estimated to be facing a 30% loss in production due to climatic changes in the country. Production is likely to stand around 1.2 million tons of mangoes against the production of 1.7 million tons recorded during
the previous season.

Last year, 0.134 million tons of mangoes were exported, generating revenues of at least $38 million, according to PFVA co-Chairman Waheed Ahmed. This year, the target was fixed at 0.15 million tons, with estimated revenues of $50
million.

The reduction in production, he said, was mainly because of climatic changes which affected mango trees in Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas and Mityari in Sindh; and Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Shuja Abad, Muzaffar Garh and Khanewal
in Punjab.

Japan last year approved the mangoes tested through a small VHT facility in the country; but it is not viable to use the same facility for commercial purposes because of its limited functionality and capacity. Thus, exports to
Tokyo remain a distant dream, Ahmed said.

The absence of a quarantine facility in the country is also not favourable to exporters; as no exporter wishes to risk sending an entire consignment to the US before quality approval, while also bearing the huge freight cost, he
said.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=21920

Posted by Wajahat Javed on May 10 2012. Filed under Business, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry