MULTAN: Despite the felling of mango orchards for residential purposes in various suburbs of south Punjab, cultivation area of the fruit is on a continuous rise.

This was claimed by Mango Research Station in-charge Abdul Ghaffar Grewal.

“In the past, mango growers were not taking a lot of much interest in improving cultivation area because they were not highly paid. Now, they are ambitious about enhancing the cultivation area as they are earning handsome amounts by exporting the fruit,” he stated.

According to sources, mango orchards in the province covered 117,000 hectares during 2011-12, while the area increased to 180,000 hectares in 2015-16. The mango crop is turning into an industry and offering significant returns to growers, he added.

To a query about increased mango area, the expert said various programmes of the Punjab government as well as foreign organisations provided much-needed facilitation for quality fruit and imparted training to growers.

The growers’ income had increased manifold, which was the basic reason behind increase in cultivation area, he claimed.

He further said the future of mango crop was bright, adding that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will enhance export of the fruit. He claimed Pakistani growers will find a large space in international markets.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2017