July 03, 2007	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 17, 1428

RAHIM YAR KHAN, July 2: Mango is known as the king of fruit around the world because of its taste and aroma but a variety of this fruit found in an orchard of Rahim Yar Khan is said to be helpful in curing asthma. The curing fruit called Damdama is found at a fruit farm in Yousafabad, 30 kilometres from Rahim Yar Khan.

Many asthma patients said they felt relief after eating fruit from the rare tree.

The effects and qualities of this mango were noticed a few years ago when a farm worker who was also an asthmatic ate mango from this tree, noticed its unique taste and aroma and felt better after eating the mango.

Later, 12 asthmatics ate it and they also felt better. Farm owner Jam Fazal Ahmed Gaanga now gives the fruit free to asthma patients.

In 2003, this variety was displayed at a mango exhibition in Rahim Yar Khan. The mango remains green after reaching maturity. It is a bit juicy but a bit bitter in taste.

Fruit and Vegetable Development Project (FVDP) Assistant Director Imtiaz Ahmed said the variety could not be further propagated through seeds because it has its own characters which are natural. It is a Fajri variety plant and has acquired ingredients from soil. He said his department will send the mango to the PCSIR laboratory in Lahore next year to know its chemical composition.

WORKSHOP: A post-harvest management workshop on mango will be held on July 10 in which processing and packing of mango will be discussed. FVDP Assistant Director Chaudhry Imtiaz said the workshop has been organised by the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board.