ISLAMABAD: In a bid to enhance the export volume of the country, the Ministry of Commerce is pursuing an comprehensive agenda. In this regard, a special focus is being paid to the exports of fruits and vegetables to the far eastern countries.
To have a better market for Pakistani mangoes and create demand in the Japanese market, the Ministry of Commerce and Textile in collaboration with Trade development Authority of Pakistan and Trade Officers posted in Japan have organized a number of events there.
“As a result of the promotional events organized in Japan, the export of mangoes to Japan is on the rise since 2014-2015. There had been tremendous increase in export of mangoes to Japan from just 14MT in 2014-2015 to 361MT in 2016-2017 (July-April). Furthermore, the Ministry of Commerce and Textile is also working to promote the export of frozen mangoes to Japan as well” a well placed source at Ministry of Commerce, Saturday, shared information along with relevant data with this scribe here. The information said that factually majority of countries required Vapour Heat treatment and irradiation before export.
Keeping this requirement in view, Ministry of Commerce had taken a number of measures to improve the quality of mangoes. The concerned department had presented SOP’s to mango growers and registered three hundred and thirteen 313 Mango Orchards according to the Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for mango export to USA, Australia, Korea, EU member countries and other sensitive countries after technical audit for quality.
Moreover, SOPs have also been provided to fruit and vegetable exporters and got established and accorded registration to 54 Mango Packhouses as per SOPs for exportation of fresh mango fruits from Pakistan to USA, Korea, EU member countries and other sensitive countries after technical audit for quality of planning.
Similarly, SOPs have also provided to fruit and vegetable exporters and got established 34 Hot Water Treatment (HWT), 3 Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT) and one Irradiation facilities and accorded registration for exportation of fresh mango free from pest and disease to sensitive countries after technical audit.
Moreover, Ministry has established 34 ripening chambers for ripening of mango and banned use of Calcium Carbide as mango- ripener being detrimental to health and imposed ban on use of wooden crates as packaging of mango fruit for export to other countries to avoid damage due to nails and rough surface of wood and insect/ pest harboring in it.
MoC has facilitated in initiation of sea-freighted export of fresh mango fruit from Pakistan to European Union countries notably the United Kingdom by opting Controlled Atmosphere (CA) technology based on System Approach to economize exports and earn maximum foreign exchange and mango growers and exporters have successfully made mango shipment to UK.
Cold storage facilities developed in Punjab and under development in Sindh will help to remove field heat (pre-shipment) to carry theshipment to its destinations without any quality loss/deterioration.
Agriculture Sector linkages Program (ASLP) has already been conducted for the improvement of mango production and value chain in Pakistan at following location Punjab (Multan, Muzaffargarh and R.Y. Khan) and in Sindh (Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Matiari.
