MULTAN (February 12 2004): The Mango Growers Association has urged the government for immediately streamlining strategy against rapid spread of chronic disease of quick decline which had destroyed orchards on very large scale in last season, and asked the Horticulture Board to involve major mango stakeholders in horticulture policy formulation.

It also asked Punjab government to exempt mango orchards from agriculture taxes for a few years due to present crisis being faced by growers in all districts while the government has already initiated rehabilitation of mango orchards which needs further extension.

The MGA president Zahid Hussein Gardezi in an exclusive interview said that mango season is in the offing but needed measures have not been adopted to combat the threat to orchards as there is only one Horticulture Officer in Multan to looking after mango orchards of 10 districts.

This would further aggravate the growers' problems. He said that preparations for the coming crop were not according to requirements and the government must address these issues immediately.

He demanded establishment of Horticulture Directorate in Multan; plant pathology and horticulture should be taught as major subjects in Bahauddin Zakaryia University's Agriculture Collage for producing experts.

He demanded of the government to impose strict ban on direct purchase of mangoes from markets for export.

The city of Multan is a centre of mangoes in southern Punjab but the mango research station was established at very unsuitable place in Shujaabad.

He demanded its immediate shifting to Multan to organise deep relationship between the researchers and growers.

Gardezi demanded starting of cargo flights from Multan for export of value-added products, especially mangoes, to capture the world fruit markets.

He said that neither a complete disease diagnostic set-up has been established in Multan to streamline strategy against 'Quick Decline' nor a single research specialist on mango is available in the country to protect the third biggest crop of the country.

The only research station is also facing shortage of field staff to conduct field operations while funds have already been curtailed to 25 percent due to which the research work is being hampered.

The mango orchards sprawl over 125,300 acres; production of 650,400 tons was received in 2002 from orchards in Punjab districts, but the crop was destroyed due to critical attack of fruit disease 'Quick Decline', lack of grading, vexing and cold storage infrastructure at wide scale and it disappointed trade queries.

Thousands of mango trees were cut last year due too severe attack of disease 'Quick Decline' that suddenly dried the mango plants and the growers came to know when last stage of prevention had passed. Not a single commercial variety has been found resistant to this disease and the problem is more common in the canal irrigated orchards while over-irrigation is conducive for the development of the disease.

The problem is more severe in the orchards where Sheeshum trees are planted as 'windbreaks'.

Gardezi demanded to adopt immediate steps for the growth of mango orchards to protect the value-added 'king of fruits' from future disaster to bring handsome amount of foreign exchange for the country.

Courtesy Business Recorder