Horticulturist Fear Serious Impact Of Hailstorm And Rain On Mango Crops

Horticulturists here on Thursday feared serious implications of climate change on the current year's mango crops in South Punjab with direct impact on its export status

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Apr, 2019 ) :Horticulturists here on Thursday feared serious implications of climate change on the current year's mango crops in South Punjab with direct impact on its export status.

Talking to APP they said continuous rains and storms would affect the fruit quality due to disrupted photosynthesis process, a crucial requirement for converting carbon dioxide and water into simple sugar glucose.

Ahmad Jawad, Former Chairman of FPCCI Standing Committee on Horticulture Exports also warned that mango crop in the province of Punjab is likely to arrive late in the market due to erratic weather changes.

"During the current season maturity of crop will be low as compared to previous years with equal implication in terms of quality and quantity of locally grown mangoes," he said.

The silver lining was said to be the fact that mango growers, during recent years, have started taking interest in mango cultivation, particularly its chaunsa variety, due to its demand in the international market.

"I am therefore hopeful that a collective approach would be adopted in future by all concerned stakeholders to tackle vagaries of weather on strong and efficient lines," said the horticulturist.

Muhammad Abrar, also a senior fruit grower and exporter acknowledging rising interest of farmers in growing mangoes, due to high rate of returns, said cultivation of mangoes is on constant rise.

"We may still be facing mango orchards being replaced by residential areas in suburbs of various cities in South Punjab yet collective interest helped developed mechanism to raise mango production," he said.

Dr. Mohammad Asif Ali was of the opinion that the current experience would definitely compel the policy makers, researchers and growers to get together and find out alternatives that may help secure the crop.

"There definitely exist alternatives which may require some research turning them doable in local context and help country and its people from any further loss," said the researcher.

Ahmad Jawad this context particularly referred to Australia Pakistan Agriculture Sector Linkages Program (ASLP), USAID, and Punjab Agriculture department for their support to the growers.

"Fruit growers are being imparted training to manage orchards and follow export standards that has helped increase their income manifolds attracting other agriculturists to focus on mango cultivation," he added.