MIRPURKHAS, June 4: Sindh Agriculture University Vice-Chancellor Bashir Ahmed Shaikh has called upon farmers to concentrate on post-harvest technology to meet challenges of the WTO.

He was speaking at a seminar held here on Saturday by the district government and Sindh Horticulture Research Institute Mirpurkhas to mark 41st national mango and summer fruits festival.

He said that India produced 80 per cent mangoes in world and Mexico was the largest mango exporter in the world.

He said that mango orchards were located in Sindh and quantum of production was very high therefore scientific research should be stressed in the area.

He urged farmers to implement advices of agriculture experts and scientists to protect their orchards against pest attack.

Mirpurkhas DCO Mumtaz Ali Shah said that comparatively a large number of farmers were participating in the festival.

He called for setting up an office of the Export Promotion Bureau in Mirpurkhas to help farmers get in touch with foreign exporters directly.

He said that a separate mango research centre would be established in Mirpurkhas by the government for research.

Sindh agriculture research director-general Dr Haji Khan Keerio, Sindh agriculture extension director-general Naeem Ahmed Korejo, Anwar Gondal, Dr Atta Hussein Soomro, Dr Abdul Sattar, Dr Shaheena, M. H. Panhwar, Abdul Jaleel Jarwar, Abdul Salam, Dr Adeel Ahmed Abowal Saud, an agriculture expert of Egypt and Mustafa Kachhelo also spoke on the occasion.