Mango exports this season were down around 20,000 tonnes on targets, with the blame leveled at rising transport costs and damage caused to crops and infrastructure by heavy rains in the country.
The Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) told the Business Recorder mango production for the year was projected to be 1.8m tonnes, with 150,000 tonnes of this total earmarked for export. However, the newspaper reported the industry fell short of this target by an estimated 20,000 tonnes.
It was reported that crops in some areas were destroyed by flooding, while widespread damage to transport routes caused problems getting fruit to export terminals.
A spokesperson for the PHDEB told the newspaper airlines had increased freight charges, which also led to a decrease in export volumes.
Work has been started by the PHDEB, and other allied agencies, to rehabilitate mango orchards so as to minimise long-term damage to the industry’s future export potential.
Other steps are being taken to help the industry realise its potential, and a mango supply chain management project, under the auspices of the PHDEB, has been implemented to address key constraints limiting the mango business in Pakistan, the paper reported.
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