KARACHI: Pakistan will start exporting 100,000 tons worth $60 million of mangoes from Wednesday, May 20, 2015, Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchant Association (PFVA) official said on Monday.

 

“The new export target is 10 percent quantity-wise higher and 20 to 25 percent revenue-wise from last year…. implementation of new measures would ensure quality export and earnings of higher revenues,” said Waheed Ahmed, chairman of PFVA Research and Development. Last year, the country had exported 94,000 tons of mango, resulted in the earnings of $48 million, he said. “We have targeted to double export of mangoes to the European Union to 10,000 tons this year. However, we could not export the fruit to Japan this year too in the absence of the required VHT plant,” he said. The expected jump in export to the valued markets has become possible with the availability of more hot water treatment plants in the country, as such treatment is a must for exporting the fruit to the European markets, he said.

 

The number of hot water treatment plants has increased to 29 in 2015 from mere three last year, Ahmed said. “These plants have the capacity to treat 2,000 to 2,500 tons of mangoes per day, which will help export disease-free fruit.”

 

The authorities have imported VHT plant months ago to treat and export the fruit to Japan as per its requirement. However, the plant is yet to be installed. “In the absence of this (VHT) plant, Japanese market will remain closed for Pakistani mangoes.”He said his association with the help of the authorities concerned is trying to tap other markets such as Russia, China and Australia. A special delegation will visit China to carry out the survey of the Chinese market for Pakistani mangoes. “China is the second largest producer of mangoes,” he said.

 

“The better revenue and enhanced volume of export will be possible after the ban on wooden crates for exporting the perishable item,” he said.

 

The country is to produce 1.8 million tons this year despite huge losses made to the fruit due to heavy rains in upper Punjab.

 

“Mangoes production in Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh and Multan is expected to face reduction by 25 percent, 50 percent and 60 percent, respectively,” he said. “The country can easily export mangoes worth $100 million during the next three years by applying internationally recognised standard of packaging of quality fruit produced through introduction of modern farming practices.”