MULTAN: Provincial Agriculture Minister Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial inaugurated a three-day international mango festival organised by Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture here on Friday.

More than 70 stalls have been arranged by growers, mango processing industry and exporters for the visitors and general public. Moreover, fun land for children, food street and entertainment programmes have been arranged for the three-day festival.

Addressing the ceremony, the minister hoped the festival would contribute well for increasing the mango export.

He said the cultivated area of mango in the country was 412,500 acres with an annual production of 1.735 million tons while 70 per cent mango was being produced in Punjab only. He said about 200 varieties of mango were being cultivated in Pakistan.

“Almost every district of Punjab grow mango. Our mango is popular in Pakistan as well as in global markets particularly Middle East, Britain and Europe due to its taste and aroma. Now our mango is the cheapest in international markets as compared to other countries,” he said.

He said the government was working on new plans for the improvement of agricultural production and profitably with higher exports which would contribute in poverty alleviation.

MNSUA Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asif Ali said mango was the king of fruits and according to an estimate it had about 4,000-year-old history in the subcontinent.

“Today about 149 kalmi varieties and 1,000 desi varieties of mango are being cultivated across the world and its total production was 25 million tons with Pakistan, India, Brazil, China, Nigeria, Mexico, and Thailand as major producer,” he said.

He said the university was establishing new footings for mango production and had introduced high density mango plantation (small tree system) in the region and about 1,300 plants per acre could be cultivated through this system with export quality harvest.

“The university has planted a model farm of mango for farmers. Adoption of this technology will substantially increase the mango production,” he said.

He said the festival was not only the gathering of mango growers, experts and exporters but it was also a source of information and entertainment for the local community.

Nigerian High Commissioner Ashimiyu Adebaya Olaniyi, Indonesian High Commissioner Iwan Suyudhie Amri, MNA Muhammad Khan Daha, MPAs Haji Attaur Rehman and Shahida Ahmed, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering and Technology Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Amir Ijaz Malik Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad Rajwana, Pest Warning Director General Sayed Zafaryab Haider, Multan Mango Research Institute Director Dr Hameedullah and Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry senior member Khwaja Farooq were also present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2019