As Indian mango exports facing a ban from the EU, Pakistan has moved fast to seize the market by using latest methodology which helps to trace back mango farms and even the tress where it grows, media reports said.
Department of Plant Protection (DPP) Director General Dr Mubarak Ahmed said the department had already granted clearance certificates to around 10 mango farms in Sindh and 14 in Punjab, the Express Tribune reported.
DPP is one of the 14 organisations working under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and is responsible for providing all-encompassing quarantine facilities to fruit growers.
According to Ahmed, this is an ongoing process and the department will continue to survey and register mango farms until June 15.
DPP officials have surveyed around 90 farms each in Punjab and Sindh and asked their owners to improve conditions if they want to get the certificate for export to the EU.
"We will inspect more farms next week and grant certificates if their performance is satisfactory," he said.
The government and fruit exporters have ramped up efforts to improve farm conditions after warning from the EU. This season, Europe has banned import of five types of fruits and vegetables from India over presence of pests and fruit flies in consignments.
Pakistan has learnt from the restrictions on Indian mangoes, which caused widespread fears among Pakistani fruit and vegetable exporters considering the fact that they export almost similar types of fruits and vegetables.
The 28-member EU has also warned Pakistan that presence of fruit flies and other diseases could lead to a blanket ban on the export of fruits and vegetables.
