MULTAN: Until April farmers in famous mango production area of The Mirpurkhas were expecting a bumper harvest of juicy, yellow fruits, which make up a significant share of country export.
However, their dreams of raking in big profits were wiped out by an unusual spike in temperature combined with water shortages and unexpected hurricanes in months of March and April are factors that could drop mango production in the country is significant.
While farmers and exporters have different estimates, they all agree that mango production and subsequent exports are likely to be hit This year.
Distribute over thousands of acres, hundreds of big and small mango orchids give several varieties of mango, mostly sindhri, for what is mirpurkhas world-famous.
strong hurricanes in in first week of May caused According to local gardener Mahmoud Nawaz Shah, heavy fruit drop.
Shah said that early summer itself would not be issue if not for the massive shortage of water.
Nation currently facing a huge shortage of water due to less snowfall and rain, which caused massive protests from farmers.
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification last week included Pakistan in number 23 countries facing drought emergencies.
International environmental agencies warn water crisis could worsen by 2025 in Pakistan, which is in the top ten countries heavily affected by climate change.
Despite the boast one of largest irrigation systems in in the worldriver water disputes with neighboring India, and then between the provinces, gave headaches to successive governments in Pakistan over in past 70 years old.
Sindh and Punjab quarreled over water distribution even before independence and partition of Indian subcontinent in 1947
Balochistan, the largest province of the country in terms of land, but the least populated, also blames Sindh administration of steals his water.
Receding production
Annual mango export from Pakistan amount up to 150,000 metric tons, mostly in Middle East, Europe, USA, Japan, Australia, etc. countries. He earns from 90 to 100 million dollars. national kitten annually.
Punjab, the country’s largest province and breadbasket, produces 70 percent of countries total mango, while Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa give 29 percent and 1 percent, respectively.
Until 2018, Pakistan produced 1.9 million metric tons of mango annually, thus ranking sixth in in a world preceded by India, China, Thailand, Indonesia and Mexico.
Mango production in the country declined over in past four years, phenomenon, accused on global warming.
Currently, Pakistan’s annual mango production is between 1.7 and 1.8 million metric tons.
“Unusual temperature in March and April wreaked havoc on mango production over in past several years, which led to a significant decrease in quantity,” said Shahid Hameed Bhutta, a Multan-based manufacturer, of another big Mango production area.
The temperature jumped to 38-42 degrees Celsius. in March and April in Multan, not less than 6 degrees higher than usual, causing massive fruit drop.
At this stage, when the mangoes were almost ripe, Bhutta said that the temperature of 32 and 34 degrees Celsius are ideal.
Scarcity and lack of water of diesel and electricity for run tube wells are another reason cited by Bhutta. for a drop in mango production.
mango will expensive This year
Waheed Ahmad, leading mango exporter, says There is bad news for mango lovers it year.
“The fruit will expensive for This year like 50% decrease in the overall production of mangoes in the country is expected due to many factors, in particular due to the ongoing shortage of water,” said Akhtar Saeed. who is an also the president of This was reported to Anadolu agency by the Pakistan Fruit Exporters Association.
This year, according to him, the association reduced export target from 150,000 metric tons to 125,000 metric tons due to less production, which will not more over 900,000 metric tons.
Rising sea and air fares, Akhtar addedmore added to the difficulties of exporters.
Echoing a similar view, Bhutta fears that there will be 40 percent up to 50 percent drop in mango gives it year.
Despite this, Bhutta is hopeful that the country will fulfill the export plan. of 150,000 metric tons if “exporters give a good rate to manufacturers.”
“But for Pakistanis, fruits will be a little more expensive year due to low production,” he said.
Shah put drop in mango production up to 10 percent up to 12 percent saying that other estimates were on in higher the end.
Rising costs for fuel, transportation, labor and packaging also ready to raise domestic prices of mango.
King of fruits
Exalted like a king of fruit, Pakistan and India recognize it as their national fruits. Both often reveal their influence in diplomacy and political activity.
The fruit has also used by writers and poets in in region over centuries to represent unspoken thoughts and feelings.
There are two dozen of mango varieties, in particular Anwar Ratual, Dasheri, Langra, Saroli, Sindri, Totapari and others.
The most famous Pakistani mango is known as Anwar Ratol which has its roots. in village two hours from New Delhi, in Bagpatsky district of Western province of Uttar Pradesh.
Many years before the partition in In 1947, a mango grower from Ratol migrated to the Pakistani side. of Punjab and named the branch he transplanted there after his father Anwar.
Almost every year Islamabad sends box of Indian mango prime minister and other high-ranking officials in Indian capital of New Delhi.
However, little attention has been paid to the adoption latest harvesting methods to further improve their quality.
Mango crops require hot weather but the winters are each time longer than the year, which gradually affects the production of mangoes.
“Climate change is a long-term issue that needs a lot of of time and effort to resolve. However, its adverse impacts can be minimized through proper water management and use of modern agricultural technology,” Bhutta said, adding that, given the law environment Pakistan may triple its mango production.
