Aussies and Pakistan's agriculture linkage scheme launched: three mango trial consignments shipped

The Australia-Pakistan Agriculture Sector Linkages Program (ASLP) for mango supply chain management project has been formally launched by arranging three trial shipments, one each to Singapore, UAE, and UK, to evaluate and identify weaknesses of the existing best export practices and to suggest improvements.
According to Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Board (PHDEB) sources here, an Australian team comprising Drs Ray Collins, Tony Dunne, Peter Johnson, and Ximing Sun from Queensland University and Ms Jodie Campbell from the Department of Primary Industries just completed two weeks visit to Pakistan. During their stay, they held meetings with the implementing partners, PHDEB and University of
Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), to streamline operational modalities and develop work plan for 2007. This was followed by a one-day project launching workshop, focusing on implementation of work plan for 2007 and institutional responsibilities.
The workshop was attended by potential participants of the supply chain relating to research, extension, academia, traders and growers. Meetings were also held with Sindh Agriculture Secretary; Sindh Agricultural University, Tandojam, Vice Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) , and Chief Executive Officer of PHDEB and Country Director, Metro, Cash & Carry, and support to project activities was solicited.
Moreover, two field workshops, one each at Asim Agriculture Farms, Tando Soomro in Sindh, and Ali Tareen Farm, Lodhran, in Punjab were conducted on May 31 and June 3, respectively.
The field workshops focused on mango harvesting, de-sapping, grading and packing at farm with a view to preserve fruit quality and improve presentation. A large number of stakeholder including growers, traders, representatives of Agriculture Extension, Research and Education, and service providers participated in the workshops and benefited from Australian experience.
A seminar for the potential students working with the project for higher education in Australia was also conducted at UAF.
The objective of the ASLP is to strengthen agriculture sector interaction between Australia and Pakistan's commercial, academic and research institutions through joint activities and institutional links. The program envisages an integrated approach cantered on building and expanding links and explore commercial opportunities between key Australian agriculture institutions and individuals with their Pakistani counterparts.