KARACHI: Mango exports fetched $80 million so far this season due to better price in world markets.

Patron-in-Chief All Pakis­tan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) Waheed Ahmed said 115,000 tonnes of the fruit were exported by Sept 15 exceeding the 100,000-tonne target after a gap of four years.

Despite climate challenges, the price of mango remained stable at Rs75- 85 per kg at the farm level while the exporters focused more on quality and packaging standards, he said, adding that extra attention to UAE, Iran, Afghanistan and Europe and the UK markets also yield results.

“Mango exports will continue till mid of October and may touch 130,000 tonnes by end of the current mango season,” he hoped. The production of mango rose to 1.5m tonnes from 1.3 million tonnes in 2018.

“An aggressive and ambitious marketing coupled with promotions in 25 different countries under the joint sponsorship of Pakistani foreign missions (embassies and consulates) helped achieving the mango export target for this season,” Waheed observed. He said adoption of modern farming techniques has not only improved mango quality mango, but also increased production.

He suggested exporters to exploit high-value and huge potential promising markets of Japan, USA, South Korea and China. He said export of mango is around 10-11pc of the total export of the horticulture sector which can be further enhanced to 25pc in the next five years to earn up $200m foreign exchange.

Pakistan exports 60pc of mango through sea and of the remaining 40pc, around 25pc is sent via land routes and 15pc by air.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2019