Mango, the world's most popular fruit

by Professor Dr. Noor Ahmed Memon, Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education

Known as the king of fruits, mango is one of the most popular, nutritionally rich fruits with unique flavour, fragrance and taste, In addition to being sumptuous, pulpy and amazing, mangoes pack a host of health benefits too. They are rich in potassium and magnesium and are a great remedy for high blood pressure.

Widely cultivated in Sindh and Punjab, the aromatic pulpy fruit is easily one of the most popular seasonal delicacies not just in Asia but also in the West. Mangoes are one of the major agricultural exports of Pakistan with high demand all across the world.

Mango arrives in the market in early May and is generally available till the end of September. Although this rich and tropical fruit is grown in over 100 countries, Pakistan remains its fourth-largest producer in the world. As of right now, the country is producing about 1.8 million tons of mangoes, of which approximately 6% are exported. Mango is also the national fruit of Pakistan.

Good taste with extreme nutritious

Eating mango is really beneficial for health as only one cup of the sliced fruit contains 1.4 grams of protein and 2.6 grams of dietary fibre. It also contains copper, folate, potassium, magnesium and manganese along with vitamins A, B5, B6, C, E and K. Mangoes are also high in antioxidants and packed with immunity-boosting nutrients.

Further nutritional benefits of mangoes include protection against macular degeneration and respiratory diseases. It also lowers the risk of certain types of cancer and strengthens bone health, according to some research studies. Eating mangoes is also good for digestion, reduces the risk of hypertension and works wonders for skin and hair.

So, even if you aren’t a huge fan of this delicious food, try to incorporate it in your diet in the form of smoothies or dessert at the very least.

Export statistics

According to a report published in a local newspaper, the country exported about 66,000 tons of mangoes in 2017, earning about PKR 5.9 billion. In 2018, the figure rose slightly to 77,000 tons. It is important to mention the yearly mango export from Pakistan is just a fraction of the total yield. This year, the country is hoping to export around 100,000 tons of mangoes, which will contribute about USD 80 million to the economy.

According to the table shown below, the export of mangoes throughout the world has increased by 26.5%. The export statistics of frozen mango and mango pulp are also shown in the table.

Country-wise Export of Mango Pulp (Major Countries) Quantity: Tonnes Value: Rs. Million

Country 2020-21 Quantity Value

Afghanistan 136 18

Australia 17 6

Belgium 17 2

Ireland -- --

Kazakstan 200 29

Libya 2260 277

Netherlands 14 2

Turkey 604 76

Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. China-Pakistan cooperation in mango production

Chinese and Pakistani experts are trying to find opportunities for cooperation to improve mango production in Pakistan by using advanced facilities and technology. “With our advanced facility agriculture, I believe that if there is an opportunity for cooperation, we will be able to systematically improve the reduction of mango production in Pakistan due to extreme weather,” said Wang Yan, General Manager of Yangling Qingpita Garden Dragon fruit Demonstration Base, in an interview with Chinese media.

He said that once the water and fertilizer integrated greenhouse is built; the service life is generally more than 15 years, with high economic benefits.

“With global warming, extreme weather is likely to occur more frequently in the future, a long-term stable growth environment can fundamentally minimize the damage caused by natural disasters.

In addition, application of organic fertilizers to increase soil organic matter is also a top priority because extreme weather can also cause serious damage to the topsoil.

“If we can work together with Iron Brother, we will start with the greenhouse and soil, and achieve a two-pronged approach. Considering the relative high cost of integrated greenhouse, building a simple rain shelter with steel wire and plastic film can be a good choice for local farmers. When the weather is fine, the shelter can be removed, and in case of extreme weather such as storms and hail, they can unfold the ‘umbrella’ made of plastic film. This low-cost method can effectively protect the trees.”

Regarding the abuse of fertilizers and pesticides in Pakistan, Wang Yan also put forward her own opinions.

“In fact, the extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides can cause fruit to spoil easily. Therefore, we must reduce the use of chemical fertilizers so organic

Country-wise Export of Mango (Major Countries)

Quantity: Tonnes Value: Rs. Million

Country

U.A.E U.K

2020-21 2019-20 Quantity Value Quantity Value

42,974 4,676 36,524 4,552 12,151 4,152 14,576 2,512

Oman

11,216 1,354 10,380 1,566 Germany 1,735 513 2,443 323 Saudi Arabia 4,697 953 7,862 1,339 China 20 4 36 7 Italy 557 171 742 141 Hong Kong 101 30 623 100 Bahrain 1,797 310 1,873 277 Belgium 65 21 411 79 Canada 730 357 1,503 280 Ireland 239 74 219 42 Kazakhstan 40,204 4,042 5,606 777 Malaysia 417 105 537 95 Norway 1,172 419 1,184 238 Qatar 5,153 872 3,940 559 Sweden 5,078 147 779 116 Switzerland 291 80 307 47 Japan 383 164 405 61 All others 26,882 4,149 22,980 3,478 Total 155,862 22,593 112,930 16,589

Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

farming methods such as fermented farmyard manure and returning straw to the field are worthy of promotion, by which can also effectively cope with the high price and shortage of local fertilizers. We are very willing to share our experience with the Pakistani friends.”

Pakistani farmers are desperately in need of modern orchard management techniques. Mohammad Rafi, a mongo grower, said that there was a dire need of introducing modern techniques for producing mangoes, which could double per acre produce within five years.

“If the government can offer support, the average grower can increase per hectare production from 12 tons to 22-25 tons by focusing on modern orchard management practices.”

Except for planting technology, Wang Yan also proposed by-product processing as a useful way to improve industrial development level and increase income.

“As a cash crop, mangoes have extremely high processing value. Juice, jam, dried fruit, fruit tea and other products are very popular. If the cooperation between China and Pakistan is realized, we will also fully share the supporting technology of processing by-products. I believe that with modern management technology, the Pakistani mango industry will get out of the predicament and usher in new opportunities.”

In the Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Industries Demonstration Zone in Shaanxi Province, which is located in the temperate zone with little water in north-western China, mangoes, as a kind of tropical and subtropical fruit, have been harvested for three consecutive years.

Among our three best varieties, a variety with smaller fruit has a yield of about 1.3 tons per mu (0.067 hectare), and the other two varieties with larger fruit has the yield between 1.5-2 tons per mu. In addition, they all have a strong resistance to disease and cold, said Wang Yan.

Pakistani Mangoes in Chinese market

The first consignment of Pakistani mangoes of the present season will be transported by air cargo service in Kunming, the capital city of China’s South-Western Yunnan province. According to Adnan Hafeez, director of Imperial Ventures (Pvt) Ltd, the shipment comprising 3-4 tons of Sindhri mangoes are likely to arrive on May 28.

The Pakistani mangoes would be sold in the market after custom clearance and necessary certifications by the relevant Chinese authorities, he added. “The Farm’s Choice” an indigenous premium fruit brand operation by Imperial Ventures Private Limited has been extensively working on promotion and marketing of Pakistani Mango in China since last six years and has seen positive growth trend.

This year, the projected export of mangoes from Pakistan to China is set to touch 100 tons, which is almost 100 percent increase from last year. However, the recent wave of Covid-19 in China could affect the outcome.

Pakistan's mango production is expected to decline by around 50% this year, as the crop has been severely hit by unusually high temperatures and water shortages, the chief of a growers' and exporters' association said.

Issues with Pakistan's mango production

Pakistan witnessed an extreme heatwave recently, with temperatures in the south crossing 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). The south Asian nation had jumped from winter to summer without experiencing a spring,

according to the country's Climate Change Ministry. "The heatwave has affected the crop greatly because the temperature in March was 28, 29 degrees Celsius - but all of a sudden it hit 42," said Waheed Ahmed, head of the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association. He said the heat at the time of the flowering of mango trees affected production greatly, adding that Pakistan was facing a 50% drop in mango production this year as a result. Though the heat ripens the succulent yellow fruit, the untimely early rise in temperatures, coupled with water shortages, have badly affected the crop.

Another concern is the water shortage. When the unripened fruit is ready it requires water which helps the mango grow to a good size. Since there is no water in Sindh, so it adds another issue in the line.

Pakistan is the world's fifth largest producer of mangoes after India, China, Thailand and Indonesia. Pakistan's average mango production is nearly 1.8 million tonnes, but likely to be around half that this year, he said, adding the association has cut is export target by 25,000 tonnes compared with last year to 125,000 tonnes.

Challenges in exports

Exports of Fruits reduced by 5% from USD 156 million to USD 147 million and vegetable reduced from USD 129 million to USD 115 million in Q3 FY 2022 . Pakistan’s fruit and vegetable payments from importers in Russia and Ukraine got stuck-up after the outbreak of war. The exporters who export Kinnow & Potato to Russia & Ukraine have been severely hit by this conflict. The payments from Russia have been stuck up due to sanctions on Russia and now the exporters are facing liquidity problems. If the war further prolongs, this issue of payment would be further deepened. A Financial Mechanism is needed urgently to resolve this serious issue. Apart from the payment issue, the horticulture exporters claim that the export proceeds is required to be remitted to Pakistan against E-forms within a time frame of 120 days, however under the prevailing war conditions, it is more likely that the exporters are unable to meet this time frame as the E-Forms which are now “overdue” would lead to various other problems. Export statistics showed zero export of wheat from Pakistan to the world. Pakistan is currently importing wheat from Ukraine, Russia and Germany. The wheat crop has recorded historic high production of 27.3 million tonnes showing an increase of 8.1 % over the 25.2 million tonnes production of last year. During 2020-21, the area under cultivation increased by 4.2 %to 9,178 thousand hectares over last year’s sown area of 8,805 thousand hectares.