Fruit flies: A Serious thread to Pakistan Mango Export

Sunday, 7 July 2013

This is with reference to the story “UK’s quarantine department destroying all shipments of Pakistani mangoes” (July 3, in Express tribune). It is the responsibility of the mango exporters and not the government to fumigate mangoes or any other fruit before shipment. Have Pakistani exporters even heard of fumigation? Mangoes could also be exported to the US, as well as the UK, and other Western markets if these are properly fumigated and shipped with certification, which is genuine and not fake.

Image Source: www.mauijungalow.com

It has become a habit with every other person, organisation and industry to blame the government for everything. To say that the government is not doing enough to control the “export” of fruit flies is not a very intelligent thing to do. When will people in Pakistan realise that it is not the government’s job to do everything? In this particular case, private mango exporters are responsible for thoroughly washing the mangoes to ensure that the fruit flies do not accompany the exported mangoes.

This is reflected in the extremely poor packaging that Pakistani mangoes come in, complete with a few shiny scraps of streamer. I have never quite understood why that is added as it is not enough to cushion the fruit from damage and is also too little for decoration. Plus, the stickers on the fruit are made of terrible material, which separates when pulled, leaving some glue and paper sticking to the fruit. This happens with no other country’s fruit that I am aware of and I have bought apples from New Zealand and Chile. The packing is superb.

I plead to Pakistani exporters to improve the packaging processes, including resolving the contamination issue, as it helps protect the fruit against damage. It is the exporters’ duty to ensure that the fruit reaches its destination in top condition.

Source: Tribune.com.pk