KARACHI: Pakistan will be made the largest mango exporting country next year by maintaining quality of the fruit exported to the world.
This was stated by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan while addressing an awards distribution ceremony organised by All Pakistan Fruits and Vegetables Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association in collaboration with Plant Protection Department.
The minister said that through the required R&D, the country may easily achieve targeted exports of $4 billion in two years while the amount may jump up to $ 6 billion in 10 years. He said that the collaboration between PFVA and Plant Protection Department has given the best result this year, enabling the exporters to keep the highly quality sensitive market of European Union despite a clear warning on the ground of quality and standard. “The strategy formed by the two departments for meeting quality demands of the lucrative foreign markets would be continued during the next season. Pakistan, which is presently the fourth largest mango exporting country, will become the largest one by next year, further added.
According to Bosan, the country’s agriculture sector is largely (97 percent) based on the small farmers who could play the major role for enhancing the country’s exporters. Director General of Plant Protection Dr Mubarak said that the minister and secretary of the ministry provided every support to the plant protection department and PFVA during the mango season. Waheed Ahmed, co-chairman PFVA, said Pakistan needed to take steps for research and development in the horticulture sector.
