MULTAN, Aug 30: The first of the three produce marketing organisations (PMOs) being supported by the Agribusiness Support Fund (ASF) will go through final audit on Sept 2 to get their mango orchards Global GAP certification.

The Progressive Mango Growers having 720 acres of land and 3,000 tons of annual production is the first PMO to undergo the audit, which will enable them to have an access to high-value European markets and chain stores across the world.

ASF has extended a grant of around Rs4 million to three PMOs on 50 per cent basis to upgrade their orchards related facilities, develop a record-keeping system in their orchards right from plantation, production, packaging and grading of the produce.

ASF chief monitoring grants Ahmad Ali Shah while talking to a group of journalists during their orientation tour to mango orchards said that they had started this project last year for mango growers keeping in view the tough requirements laid down by the European and other high-value markets so as enabling the growers to fetch maximum price for their fruits.

He said that the European food retailers and the Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group (EUREP) represents leading European food retailers and aims to promote good production practices in the agricultural sector in order to ensure food safety. EUREP has developed a framework for good agricultural practice and elaborated it into specific standards for the production of fruits and vegetables, combinable crops, livestock, feed and flowers.

Ahmad Shah said that this scheme would enable the country to have 3,000 tons of certified fruit available to tap the potential of European as well as other markets such as Singapore. The members of PMOs have already toured Singapore and will be visiting UK to evaluate the market options, he added.

The visiting journalists were shown improved orchards, storage and packing house facilities that this certification requires.

Saleem Alizai, head of progressive mango growers group appreciating the ASF support to the farmers said that now the government should also play its role for promotion of mango exports.

He said that they needed a full-fledge packaging house, ripening chambers, blast chillers and a modern airport at Multan, which could entertain wide-body cargo carriers to curtail the shipment time.