A
Landmark Success of PARB’s project through CA Technology
(First
Shipment of Mango Sindhri to Europe)
Pakistan currently
produces over 14 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables, out of which almost
1/3rd never reach to consumer and wasted between farms to end-users.
High post-harvest losses not only lower the net income of producers and traders,
but also reduce the quantity of produced available in local markets as well as
for exports. Despite large production, our fresh produce exports are negligible
(<3%) having less prices in international markets (<41% world average-FAO,
2005).So far Pakistani exporters have not been able to penetrate into high end
supermarket chains, which share about 80% of the fruits and vegetables sales in
EU and many other developed countries.
Mango is one of the
most popular tropical fruits in the world, earns about $24 million annually.
Around 60-70% good quality of mangoes is exported to Middle East and 15-16% to
Europe. Limitation in export of fresh produce, particularly that of mango is
the enormous cost of air freighting (e.g. to Europe: Avg. Rs. 160/KG compared
to Rs. 20/KG by sea during 2009). The interest in sea freighting of mangoes is
growing and probably the only commercially viable option for export to far
distant places in the future. However, it needs extended time and specific
protocols to be developed for maintaining fruit quality, which is only possible
using Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Technology. Mangoes from South America are
being successfully shipped to EU using CA Technology.
v Determine
optimum CA-conditions for different fruits and vegetables
v Extend
shelf life and maintain quality of mangoes, enabling its sea-freighting for
reducing cost of shipment to high end markets
v Establish
local infrastructure/facilities to continue R&D in the area of CA
technology
The overall results on mango
varieties suggest that storability and marketability of mango can be improved
through appropriate use of CA technology. This has created a potential for long
distance shipments (up to 4 weeks) followed by 5-6 days of shelf life. Chilies performed better under CA conditions
with storability up to two weeks followed by 2 days shelf life. The technology on kinnow did not get too much
success due to sensitivity of the fruit, however alternatives such as initial precooling,
wax and proper Ventilation can increase its shelf life. Effect of CA conditions
on apple varieties can also enhance the storability of Kala Kulu and Shin Kulu
up to 9 months followed by 2 weeks shelf life at ambient conditions.
Explaining the success of the project, Dr. Amanullah said that the information
regarding this project has been demonstrated by arranging seminars, trainings,
workshops, meetings and visits for the local growers/ store keepers/ cold store
operators/ traders and exporters. Another remarkable achievement is publication
of two research papers in the 7th International postharvest
Symposium in Malaysia. A modern Controlled Atmosphere R & D infrastructure
has been developed at Institute of Horticultural Sciences (UAF) to meet the
long term national needs, he maintained.
Many output oriented PARB projects related to agriculture, forestry,
fisheries and livestock are in the pipeline for the purpose of to increase
yield, earn foreign exchange and bring prosperity for our stakeholders. Dr.
Mubarik Ali, the Chief Executive of PARB, ensured that all thes projects are
being completed successfully according to timeline prescribed in every project.
He believes that the outcomes of these projects can generate a revolution in
the agriculture sector.
Maryam
Naseer
Research
Publication Officer
PARB
Ph:
0423-7232744 EXT. 616 Fax:
042-37247594
3rd
Floor ZTBL 47, The Mall Lahore
+ comments + 1 comments
Can any body publish the economic fesibelity and last years earned money by any party through this technology of Mango Export
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