Farmers fear Mango production to decline by 30 percent
Tuesday, June 5th, 2012 6:02:23 by Wajahat Javed
Farmers fear Mango production to decline by 30 percent
Monday, June 4, 2012: Mango Growers in Pakistan are expecting a 30 percent decline in the yield of the fruit owning to climate change in the regions mostly associated with mango growth. The decline in growth will also mean that
there the exports of Mango will also be affected.
In 2011, the Pakistani mango growers succeeded in making a breakthrough in exporting to the US. However, this year, with the fall in yield, they stand to lose this advantage.
All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchant Association (PFVA) Chairman Waheed Ahmed while sharing the news with media said, “The decline was due to weather changes that affected mango groves in many parts
of the country including Mirpurkhas, Mityari Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Rahim Yar Khan Multan, Shuja Abad, Muzaffargarh and Khanewal. For the current year, the government has set a target for export of mangoes up to 150,000 metric tons and generation of an
estimated $50 million.”
Ahmed further pointed out that in the year 2011, 134,000 tons of mangoes had been exported which fetched about $38 million.
Aftab Khan Kahichi, a leading mango grower of Vehari, said one of the primary reasons for low export numbers was the lack of infrastructure. “There is insufficient infrastructure like storage, standardisation and required machinery
and equipment to deal with adverse weather,” he said. “Likewise, the packing and preserving quality and standard of mangoes as per buyer requirements is also not available to the growers”, he added.
Some agriculture experts said that the yield of mango can be assessed with the scale starting from below normal (poor) to excellent extremes with two normal and good mid levels as well.
Dr Noorul Islam, Director General, Ayub Agriculture Research Institute (AARI), said that harsh frost bite, has had a severe adverse impact as late as march this year. “Prolonged winter season also impacted the start of late flowering
which in turn will lower yield,” Dr. Noor ul Islam said.
Tags: Mangoes, PFVA
Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=24738
Posted by Wajahat Javed
on Jun 5 2012. Filed under Business, Pakistan.
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