IANS

ISLAMABAD EXPORTS of mangoes from Pakistan will suffer this year as production has been low compared to last year.

Pakistan annually produces 1.7-1.8 million tonnes of mangoes.

But production this year has been estimated at 1.2 million tonnes only, the Daily Times reported on Saturday.

High prices of fertilisers and pesticides, and shortage of water have created problems for growers.

Over 85 percent of Pakistani mangoes are exported to Dubai, which are then sold to other Gulf countries.

An exporter said Pakistani mangoes have to compete with India at every front, from bulk orders to supermarkets.

“It is unfortunate that being the world’s largest producer and exporter of mangoes, India beats Pakistan, undoubtedly not in quality of the product, but in terms of a stronger functioning export mechanism, rigorous international marketing and a strategic mango diplomacy crusaded by their envoys in all parts of the world, in which we are lacking,” said Ahmad Jawad, the exporter.

He said Pakistani mangoes have to undergo an irradiation procedure at a facility in Iowa, US, which would now charge US importers per hour rather than by weight.

This would affect export as mango buyers in the US would be reluctant to pay more. However, for Indian mangoes, the process takes place in India itself at a facility in Nashik, where a US inspector reportedly funded by Indian government checks every shipment for compliance to US standards.