Edevelop
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LAHORE: The Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) has started exporting mangoes to South Korea a big achievement in its endeavours to promote the export of mangoes.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, PHDEC Chief Executive Officer Bashir Hussein said PHDEC worked closely with the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) Pakistan for opening up the South Korean market for mangoes. The company arranged a visit of South Korean quarantine experts to Pakistan and facilitated meetings with relevant institutions, he said.
During the visit, the experts went to examine mango orchards, the irradiation facility of Paras Foods in Lahore and the hot water treatment facility of Pakistan Hortifresh Private Limited, which is a joint venture between PHDEC and Durrani Associates.
Highlighting other efforts, Hussein said this year the company finalised paperwork for mango exports to Australia, which was an open market and PHDEC’s intervention would make it possible for growers, processors and exporters to ship mangoes.
In this context, an Australian delegation comprising biosafety experts of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry visited Pakistan from May 28 to June 4.
According to Hussein, a mango shipment through sea reached the Netherlands in July and initial reports show that the sea route is going to be the next best option for mango shipments to Europe, which will not only reduce cost but also provide a chance to export the fruit in large quantities.
The shipment to the Netherlands took 26 days and the results were perfectly positive as mangoes were in excellent condition and no trace of withering was found, he stressed.
In 2011-12, the Netherlands imported 537 tons of Pakistani mangoes, three times higher than import of 184 tons in 2010-11.
Responding to questions, Hussain claimed that mango exports were showing a gradual and steady growth as Pakistan exported 75,000 tons in the 2009 season, 85,000 tons in 2010 and 92,000 tons in 2011. This season, exports are expected to remain slightly above 100,000 tons.
End.
