KARACHI: Exporters have urged the Ministry of Commerce to extend the final date of mango exports to June 1 from May 20 for the current year as climate change and lockdowns have affected the produce.

Sindh and Punjab’s mango crop is likely to mature after a delay of two week as the mango season is delayed due to non-availability of required level of temperature and humid climate.

The mango crop usually matures by the middle of May, but it is expected to be delayed by two weeks this year and exporting pre-matured mango would not be beneficial to growers.

On the other hand, owing to the lockdown, growers have not been able to make adequate preparations for exports as transportation to carry laborers to orchards and essential arrangements for packing are banned by the government to contain the virus.

Patron-in-Chief Pakistan Fruits and Vegetable Exporters Association Waheed Ahmed said the mango crop is still not ready for harvesting and if the date of export of May 20 is followed, exporters would ship unripe mangoes to foreign markets.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2020