Mango Festival to promote the mango value chain continues

Islamabad: The three-day Centaurus Mango Festival, held in collaboration with MNS Agriculture University Multan at Centaurus Mall, continued on Saturday. The theme of the event is “Bringing together mango farmers, businesses, consumers and exporters” and aims to promote linkages and partnerships along the mango value chain.

Centaurus Mall plays a significant role in promoting local businesses, artisans, farmers, growers and other small industries in Pakistan by providing them a platform to expose them to a larger audience.

Citizens of Pakistan eagerly await the mango season as this delicious fruit is not only a luxury item but also makes a major contribution to the country’s economy and is a source of national pride.

Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, CEO Centaurus Group and President IDA Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, MNA Hanif Abbasi along with other distinguished guests of honour and ambassadors inaugurated the second day of the Mango Festival.

Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that Pakistan is the world leader in mango production and consistently ranks among the largest producers. Over 300,000 small farmers cultivate mangoes, making it a major source of income and employment in rural areas. Punjab province leads the way, contributing a whopping 78% to the national mango production, while Sindh province follows closely behind with around 21.6%.

The IDA President mentioned that Pakistan’s total mango production is 1.79 million tonnes per year, of which only 6% is exported, mainly to the UAE, UK, Oman, USA and the European Union. However, Pakistan’s post-harvest losses are very high, ranging from 0.36 to 0.71 million tonnes, which is 20-40% of the domestic volume. The losses in mango production are much higher than those in exports, he added.

To control losses and increase export production, Sardar Yasir Ilyas urged the government and stakeholders to focus on promoting modern agricultural practices, training farmers, investing in cold storage facilities, transportation and packaging infrastructure, implementing integrated pest management strategies, developing disease-resistant varieties and opening up new export markets.

The Mango Festival attracted a diverse audience including academics, researchers, government officials, ambassadors, agricultural experts and mango farmers. This event is an important platform to highlight the value of Pakistani mangoes and increase its export potential. It increases mango productivity and industry growth by promoting knowledge sharing and interaction among stakeholders.

Visitors can discover over 70 varieties of mangoes, including popular varieties like Sindhri, Langra, Chaunsa, Anwar Ratol and Dussehri, as well as unique varieties like Neelun, Begum and Sensation. This festival offers an opportunity to see and buy the highest quality mangoes at one place.