Punjab government focusing on 15 products' export to European market

The Punjab government has allocated Rs 22 billion for water productivity on farm gate and Rs 2 billion for entire value chain in a bid to develop agriculture sector, said Provincial Agricultural Secretary Arif Nadeem.
Addressing as chief guest the first national workshop entitled 'Mango Sea-freight Technology', arranged by the Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) Video Conference Room, he said the Punjab government is touching European markets by focusing on 15 products comprising poultry, meat, cereals, vegetables and fruit by ensuring international standards.
He said that Star Farms Pvt Ltd in collocation with Punjab government is establishing global GAP-certified outlets in the country, which has a chain of 2000 branches across the globe, while its 45 customers points would be set up in the province. Quoting the example of Gujarat, India, he said that its agricultural growth is standing at 9.1 percent which is much better than Pakistan's. He said to capture the international markets, "we have to develop state-of-the-art mechanism" to meet the standards of the world by focusing on technology, water and sales.
The UAF vice chancellor called for promoting mango sea-freight (controlled atmosphere) technology to generate heavy revenue by exporting it as despite a large production, Pakistan's mango exports remain limited. The vice chancellor said Pakistan can enhance the shelf life of mango and can preserve it for more than one month with the fresh taste and characteristics by using the technology.
He said the mango is predominantly air-freighted to distant export markets. However, a significant proportion, exported to Middle East, especially Dubai is via sea. He said the mango is the second major fruit crop (approximately 1.7 million tons) of the country, providing livelihood to millions nation-wide along with annual foreign exchange.
He said that during 2009-10, Pakistan exported about 73,400 tons mango worth 23 million dollars while top mango export markets were UAE, UK, Saudi Arabia and Iran. He said that with the ever-growing international mango trade, sea freighted mangoes have become a commercial interest for the exporters and importers since it is the most economical means of bulk transportation and making mango available at the import market.
Dr Amanullah Malik, of Post-harvest Research & Training Centre (PRTC), Institute of Horticultural Sciences, UAF, said that the workshop is aimed at taking stock of the current status of mango sea-freight supply chain and developing a roadmap for promoting sea-freight for substantially increasing export volumes in the next 5 years.