Mango exporters are facing significant challenges in achieving their export target of 125,000 tonnes due to the poor strategy of the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and a 20 percent drop in production.
The All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers, and Merchants Association (PFVA) criticized the DPP for implementing a new standard operating procedure (SOP) on June 12, which made hot water treatment (HWT) of mangoes mandatory only from approved plants.
As a result of this discriminatory policy and favoritism, 90 percent of the 35 plants have been forced to shut down, causing a loss of $44 million. These HWT plants were not issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) by the DPP.
The closure of these plants has resulted in the unemployment of approximately 2,500 skilled and unskilled laborers. Additionally, 6,000 laborers working with growers have also been adversely affected.
The PFVA has raised its concerns with the Ministry of National Food Security, highlighting the discriminatory policy and favoritism of the DPP. They pointed out that while modern HWT plants are being shut down, certain favored plants are being allowed to operate under the new SOPs.
?The association criticized the DPP for refusing to issue NOCs to non-approved HWT plants based on minor objections unrelated to their essential functions. These non-approved plants have been successfully processing mangoes for export to various countries without any complaints from buyers.
With 90 percent of the HWT plants closed, the remaining plants are under immense pressure to treat mangoes beyond their capacity. This raises concerns about the quality and treatment of mangoes being exported from Pakistan.
The PFVA called for action against officials who are harming national trade and benefiting from the non-approval of HWT plants.Prior to the start of mango exports in May, the PFVA had already warned of a drop in production from 1.8 million tonnes to 1.44 million tonnes compared to the previous year.
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