KARACHI: Chinese investors have expressed interest in mango varieties of Sindh province.
Recently, a delegation of Chinese investors visited the Sindh Agricultural University, where they interacted with scientists and progressive farmers about business opportunities in the mango-growing areas of Sindh, while the participants discussed the lucrative international Agreed to promote mango value addition program in markets.
A three-member delegation of various Chinese companies led by Ms. Jungian Yao, a Chinese consultant for business relations in international countries, met Sindh Agricultural University Vice Chancellor Dr. Fateh Marri, Chen Peng, He Ming Chun, and Pakistani businessmen Ashfaq Hussain and Syed Shakeel.
Dean Dr. Manzoor Ali Abro, Dr. Asia Akbar, Dr. Tahsin Fatima Miyano, Dr. Shahzoor Gul participated in this meeting and discussed issues of mutual interest.
Dr. Fateh Marri said that the experts of Sindh Agriculture University are working on mango value addition, mango processing and its by-products and such products are of export quality.
He said that our graduates and experts are also transferring this technology to rural women and those women are running profitable businesses in their homes, while university experts have successfully researched mango products and disease-free nurseries.
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the importance of agriculture in the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Chen Peng said that they have started visiting the mango producing areas in Sindh and southern Punjab and are specifically looking for the varieties of mangoes that can be available from May to September. These mangoes will be processed in bulk and exported after value addition.
Ms. Jinglin Yao said that we are initially looking for the most suitable varieties of mangoes for the production of mango pulp, for which we plan to purchase and process 6,000 tons of mangoes in the first phase. We need specific weights, high pulp and materials.
Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kunbhar said that Pakistan produces 1.8 million tons of mangoes annually, but only one percent, which is 50,000 tons, is exported.
He said that experts are doing their work to eliminate diseases in mango. Experts of the Institute of Food Sciences and Technologies, Dr. Asia Akbar Panhour and Dr. Tahsin Fatima Miyano gave a briefing about the value chain of mango and its by-products and the efforts of Sindh Agriculture University in this regard.
