PHDEB fixes mango export target at 100,000 tonnes for ’09

[LahoreEstate]

By Tanveer Sher

KARACHI: The Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB) have fixed the mango export target at 100,000 tonnes for the year 2009.

During the year 2007-08, the export was 110,000 tonnes but the board in consultation with the exporters reduced the export target for the current year due to low production in Sindh and global economic conditions.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PHDEB, Shamoon Sadiq said despite severe global economic recession, Pakistan would be able to retain its export volumes due to various interventions in the pre and post production areas and entering into new international markets. “The board expects to fetch around $43 million from the export of 100,000 tonnes,” he added.

According to the Mango Development Strategy devised by PHDEB for the current year, they plan to target new markets such as China, Jordan, Germany and USA. The USA market would depend upon the approval by FDA-USA of the newly established irradiation facility in Lahore. Sadiq appreciated the efforts being taken by the government to convince the Japan government to facilitate import of mangoes from Pakistan.

Besides, the development programme would ensure improving the cosmetic appearance and increase shelf life of mango through de-sapping and heat removal techniques and better handling methods including packaging and transportation through reefer, etc.

Experimentation efforts are also being made to transport mangoes to EU through sea transportation, which would decrease the cost, making our product more competitive in the international market.

In the long-term, PHDEB has set itself a mango export target of $80 million by the year 2011-12. Although there is a huge potential to capitalise the high-end markets but this would only be possible if we can comply with their quarantine requirements, which means adapting quality standards throughout the supply chain. An important component is to establish required infrastructure such as packing houses with hot water dip facilities and cold storages at production areas.

PHDEB plans to establish two mango pack-houses through public-private partnership, equipped with hot water treatment facility, one each in Sindh and Punjab. Also, two ethylene ripening chambers for mangoes (combo type field heat removal and ripening chambers) will also be installed in the mango production areas. It is expected that 3,000 acres of mango orchards will be GlobalGAP certified in Punjab, while, 2,000 in Sindh awareness seminars, one in Sindh and 2 in Punjab. The adoption of GlobalGAP standards has indicated that the possibilities for development of indigenous commodity specific standards for either local or export marketing should be initiated. Initially the PakGAP standards will be developed in consultations with relevant organisations and certification bodies, Sadiq concluded.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg5_13