pakistanpal

ZoneAsia-Pk

There will be no export of mangoes to the United States this year because of exorbitant landed cost and extremely restrictive conditions imposed by the US, exporters of the king of fruits say.

Two years ago US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had offered Pakistan help in exporting mangoes to the US and last year some limited quantities had reached the US market.

"Our cost of production increases to maintain international standards, but we cannot export a single mango to the US this season because of restrictions," said Mango Growers Association President Maj (retd) Tariq Khan.

The United States Department of Agriculture and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service had imposed a condition on Pakistan for irradiating mango and vegetables before exporting to the US.

Pakistan had spent Rs300 million to establish irradiation plant by the Pakistan Energy Commission, but US experts objected to the plant and declared that it was not reliable and was dubious.

"There is politics. If the US recognizes our irradiation plant it would support and justify our nuclear programme. Pakistan's first food Irradiation Treatment Plant (ITP) is a complete set and benefits to dry fruits and dehydrate food storage and eliminating insect infestation," said a senior plant protection official.

The USDA restricted Pakistan mango shipments for irradiation from Chicago's American Irradiation Plant before distribution in US cities.

"As far mangoes from Pakistan are concerned, we have been only permitted by the USDA to ship mangoes to Chicago, as per the written permission by the USDA/APHIS. They are so stringent in this regards that they do not offer us any relaxation," said Khan.

The alternate facility is available at Gulf port and Mississippi besides the facility of Sad ex at IOWA for irradiation of mango consignments.

Additionally the PIA has cancelled all direct flight operations from May last and the growers do not have direct flights from Pakistan to Chicago.

The USDA allowed mango growers to use Dubai as touchdown before it lands in Chicago, which could not materialize due to the airlines unwillingness to take mangoes to the US.

Khan said that one of his farms located in Multan vicinity, Lutfabad, had already lost the business opportunity of $3.5 million due to procedural quagmire.

These double standards by the US officials reflect their intentions not to support Pakistan business, Khan said.