Latest news with #Sindhri
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- General
- Qatar Tribune
Pakistani Mango Festival at Souq Waqif draws crowd
The Pakistani Mango Festival (Al Hamba Exhibition) at Souq Waqif continues to draw large crowd. Held at the Eastern Square of Souq Waqif until July 19, the festival is organised by the Private Engineering Office in co-ordination with the Embassy of Pakistan. Large varieties of mangoes — Sindhri, Chaunsa, Safed Chaunsa, Anwar Ratol and Duseri — are available for visitors. Also, mango products including juices, ice creams and cakes are on sale. (TNN)
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Stakeholders urge global promotion of Sindhri Mango, emphasise IP rights and R&D
KARACHI: Exporters, importers, progressive farmers, and officials have pleaded for promoting Sindhri Mango at international markets and focusing on research and development (R&D) with a view to highlighting the importance of intellectual property (IP) rights. They said this while officially launching the ceremony of Sindhri Mango as a registered Geographical Indications (GIs) of Pakistan aimed to raise awareness among consumers, exporters, and stakeholders about the value and potential of GIs. A GI is a sign used in relation to products that have a specific geographical origin, and possess qualities and reputation essentially due to the natural and human factors of their place of origin. GIs are not merely a label; they are a brand that guarantees authenticity and a proud testament to the unique qualities of the products. On Jan 3, 2023, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) as the registrant secured GI status for the denomination 'Sindhri Mango' from the GI Registrar, Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) of Pakistan. Farmers push for govt support as climate change, water shortage threaten Pakistan's mango industry The stakeholders highlighted the importance of GI protection for promoting rural economy, agricultural branding and export development. Geographical Indications are a powerful tool to promote Pakistan's unique origin-linked products globally. The registration of Sindhri Mango as a GI symbolises a major step in protecting and branding Pakistan's world-renowned mangoes. Cultivated primarily in Sindh, and certain parts of Punjab, Sindhri Mango is celebrated for its vibrant yellow color, unique aroma, and juicy sweetness. To mark this milestone, the IPO of Pakistan in collaboration with UN-World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) hosted a launch event for the Sindhri mango GI at a shopping mall on Thursday. IPO chairman Farukh Amil said 23% of gross domestic product (GDP) of the country is agriculture as 37% people are associated with the agriculture sector. While focusing on protection of agriculture, knowledge, heritage and inventions, he said, 'Today marks a historic milestone in Pakistan's intellectual property journey: the official launch of Sindhri Mango as a Geographical Indication of Pakistan. This event celebrates not just a fruit, but a legacy—a product born of the Sindh soil, nurtured by generations of skilled growers. Today's launch is not just a celebration, but a commitment to honour our heritage, empower our producers and take Pakistan's GI portfolio to the world. Let this success inspire all stakeholders to work together for effective enforcement of GI rights, stronger branding of other Pakistan GI products and active participation of growers and exporters in the GI system'. He said Sindhri Mango as a national treasure is one of Pakistan's most prized agricultural exports. Sindhri is cultivated in Sindh and parts of southern Punjab, while its unique quality is inseparably linked to its region of origin. Amil said GIs are more than legal tools as they are economic assets. They help protect authenticity, ensure product quality, and open new trade opportunities. GI protection of Sindhri Mango will preserve its reputation and standardise its quality, ensure that only genuine producers benefit from its growing market appeal and promote fair recognition and better prices for local farmers, according to Amil. He said the launch reinforced Pakistan's commitment to supporting rural economies, agricultural branding, and export-led growth. 'Sindhri's GI registration is a step toward unlocking the global potential of many more origin-linked Pakistani products. It encourages collaboration between federal institutions, provincial governments and growers' associations.' All Pakistan Fruits & Vegetables Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association Chairman Aslam Pakhali said there was no comparison of Sindhri Mango with mangos of India, but Indians had established the brand and Pakistanis lag behind them unfortunately for lack of vision. 'Mango changes its properties daily'. 'Lowest in 9 years': Pakistan agriculture sector projected to grow only 0.56% in FY25 'We as an association set 125,000 tonnes export target of mangoes this year throughout the country, but we could not meet the half of the set target this year due to a host of reasons including poor weather condition, war in Iran and other issues. 'Let me give an example, Japanese eat from the eyes and we eat from the nose, why are we unable to produce a presentation (attractive) mango for want of research and development (R&D). Sindh produces 300,000 or 350,000 tonnes of mangoes on an average including all varieties. Sindh can have far better quality mangoes,' he said. Punjab produced around 1.5 million tonnes of mangoes last year. Export share prevailed around 100,000-150,000 tonnes, there is no dearth of mango export, but there is no quality, Pakhali claimed. Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) president Syed Mahmood Nawaz Shah said IPO gives rights to market and sell a product and when the product is registered, no other individual or company can sell that product anywhere in the world. 'Sindhri Mango bristles with a unique taste and GI. If someone tries to plant it in another region or country, the same Sindhri mango of Sindh cannot grow because of geographical changes,' he said.
Business Recorder
07-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Farmers push for govt support as climate change, water shortage threaten Pakistan's mango industry
KARACHI: The government needs to adopt modern techniques and technologies to protect mangoes, said progressive farmers and food technologists while talking to Business Recorder. Nabi Bux Sathio, Senior Vice President at the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA), said fewer mangoes grew this year, compared to last year, due to several factors. 'Firstly, nearly 15-20% of the fruit fell from trees prematurely due to dust and thunderstorms. Secondly, there was an acute water shortage at the time of fruiting. 'Both climate change and water scarcity took a heavy toll on the fruit yield and size,' said Sathio. He said that the government has set no target for mangoes as it is categorized neither as a major nor a minor crop, but as a fruit. In Sindh, mango orchards cover nearly 100,000 acres. Traditionally, the top five mango-producing districts in the province are Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Khairpur and Tando Jam of Hyderabad district, where 90% of Sindh's mangoes are cultivated. Meanwhile, 70% of mangoes in Punjab are grown in Multan, with the remaining 30% produced in Bahawalpur and other areas. In terms of overall production, Sindh accounts for over 60% of the country's output. The rest, especially Chaunsa, are grown in Punjab. Sindh is known for varieties such as Sindhri, Chaunsa, Anwar Ratol, Langra, Daseri, Baingan Phalli, Gulab Khas and others. Mango began to reach markets from May 1 to July 31. After July, cold storage mangoes or varieties from Multan become available. Speaking to Business Recorder, Sathio urged authorities, including the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), Sindh Irrigation Department and others, to ensure 100% water supply to orchards during the season. 'There is a one-and-half-month harvest window, and farmers wait nearly 10 months to earn a decent living. The fruit takes 90 to 100 days to mature, during which four water cycles are required to ensure proper fruiting, sweetness, weight and size,' Sathio said. Local mangoes are high in demand internationally. Mangoes from Sindh are mostly exported, while mangoes from Punjab are utilized in juices, with only 2-3% being exported. However, when it comes to mango export, it is not just about picking ripe fruit, ''it's a science', said Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Institute of Sciences and Technology Associate Professor Dr Aasia Akbar Panhwar. 'In Pakistan, we have seen how simple post-harvest mistakes lead to high rejection rates at international ports,' she said. She informed that the institute has initiated training farmers on proper harvesting techniques. 'Hot water treatment (HWT) became essential. This step kills fruit fly larvae and meets the phytosanitary standards of countries like Japan and the USA. 'We also introduced mechanical brushing to remove field residues and controlled de-sapping to keep mangoes blemish-free,' she said. Equally important was quality packaging that maintains humidity, minimises damage, and promotes traceability. 'These interventions, though simple, made a profound difference. Exporters who adopted them saw fewer rejections and better prices,' she said. Moreover, the government should play a proactive role in establishing centralized mango processing and treatment facilities, particularly in major mango-producing regions such as Mirpurkhas, Tando Jam Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur and DI Khan. However, any smallholder farmers in these areas lack access to essential post-harvest infrastructure, including HWT units, mechanized grading and sorting lines, and export-compliant packaging systems. Government-led investment in such facilities would ensure compliance with international phytosanitary standards, reduce post-harvest losses, and significantly improve the marketability of Pakistani mangoes abroad. This would not only enhance export volumes but also increase farmers' income and strengthen Pakistan's position in the global fruit market. Moreover, these plants can function as training and demonstration hubs, promoting awareness and adoption of good agricultural and post-harvest practices among growers, packers, and exporters, thereby building a more resilient and value-driven mango supply chain. Protection of mangoes: Mangoes can be protected through integrated pest management (IPM), timely harvesting, and post-harvest treatments. Pre-harvest protection includes bagging of fruits, the use of pheromone traps, and biological control to minimize insect damage. Meanwhile, post-harvest, fruits should be handled carefully to avoid bruising, and treated with hot water or fungicides to prevent decay. Cold chain management, hygienic packing, and transportation under controlled temperatures further protect quality. Awareness and training of growers on best practices and monitoring systems also play a vital role in reducing losses and improving fruit safety and export potential. What are Phytosanitary protocols? Phytosanitary protocols are scientific measures implemented to prevent the spread of pests and diseases essential to international trade. For mango exports, these protocols include HWT, vapour heat treatment, pest-free area certification, and proper documentation and traceability. They are enforced under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and vary by importing country. Compliance ensures that exported mangoes are free from quarantine pests like fruit flies and fungal pathogens. Adherence to these standards minimizes rejection risks, maintains the importing country's biosecurity, and safeguards the exporting country's market reputation and access.
Express Tribune
22-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Two-day mango festival opens in Lahore
Listen to article The Punjab Tourism Department inaugurated the much-anticipated Mango Festival 2025 in Lahore showcasing over 50 varieties of Pakistan's beloved summer fruit. Held at a local hotel, the two-day event drew large crowds including citizens, tourists, farmers, agricultural experts, students, and professionals from the food and hospitality industry. The festival offered a vibrant mix of traditional dance, folk music, handicrafts, and a wide array of mango-based dishes, turning the event into a unique celebration of agriculture, culture, and culinary creativity. The festival was formally opened by Punjab Secretary of Tourism Fareed Ahmad Tarar and Dr Nasir Mehmood, Managing Director of the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP). Tarar described the festival not just as a celebration of mangoes but also as a tribute to the hardworking farmers of Punjab and the province's rich agricultural and cultural heritage. Dr Mehmood emphasized that the event serves as a platform for promoting tourism, hospitality, and local industries alongside agriculture. Agricultural expert Rana Asif Hayat Tipu highlighted that five tons of export-quality mangoes were made available at farm-gate prices to address public concerns that high-grade fruit is rarely accessible in retail markets. He warned, however, that climate change, intense heat, dust storms, and water shortages had severely affected this year's crop, causing an estimated 40–50% decline in production. Read: Eat mango at night for these 10 incredible health benefits Experts noted that Pakistan typically produces around 1.8 million metric tons of mangoes annually, with Punjab contributing 70% of the national output, Sindh 29%, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa about 1%. Due to adverse weather conditions, 2025's output is projected to drop to approximately 1.4 million metric tons. Nonetheless, the government has ambitiously raised the export target to 125,000 metric tons this season, aiming for $100m (approx. PKR 28m) in foreign exchange earnings. Last year, only 13,681 metric tons were exported, generating $46.7m. Festivalgoers, particularly women and young attendees, expressed excitement over witnessing such a diverse array of mango varieties in one location—something they rarely encounter in local markets. Nimra, a representative of a hospitality group, shared that their stall was focused on teaching attendees how to prepare a variety of mango-based dishes such as cakes, shakes, chutneys, juices, and ice cream, promoting mangoes as a versatile ingredient beyond a simple chilled fruit. Young artist Sarah Muhammad Hussain and her team displayed mango-themed paintings, capturing the fruit's vibrant colors and aromatic essence on canvas. Pakistan cultivates more than 200 mango varieties, about 20 of which are grown commercially and exported globally. These include popular types such as Chaunsa, Sindhri, Neelum, Anwar Ratol, Langra, Dussehri, Began Phali, Gulab Khas, Saroli, and Zafran. Known for their exceptional taste, aroma, color, and nutritional value, Pakistani mangoes continue to enjoy premium status in international markets, earning them the title 'King of Fruits.' According to TDCP officials, the Mango Festival plays a pivotal role in boosting agri-tourism and cultural exchange while also facilitating direct interaction between growers and exporters—enhancing value chains and market access for local producers. Previously, twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi revelled in the sweet bliss of mangoes, aptly hailed as the "King of Fruits," as the juicy delight brings joy to people of all ages in the summer season. Vibrant displays of mangoes greet shoppers in local markets, with vendors showcasing every kind of mango from the renowned Chaunsa, Sindhri, and Anwar Ratol to the prized Langra, Fajli, and Dusehri. Every type of variety is readily available. Mango lovers can relish the sweetness of Chaunsa, the tanginess of Sindhri, or explore other unique flavors, making the twin cities a haven for mango connoisseurs. As people enjoy the mango season, vendors are working hard to meet the demand. A fruit vendor in Islamabad's F-6 market, Muhammad Ali, shared that "We are importing mangoes from the best orchards in Sindh and Punjab to ensure top quality and flavour. He said that Mangoes are flying off the shelves and they are having a great season so far, with Chaunsa and Sindhri being the top sellers.
Express Tribune
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Mango madness grips twin cities
The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi revel in the sweet bliss of mangoes, aptly hailed as the "King of Fruits," as the juicy delight brings joy to people of all ages in the summer season. Vibrant displays of mangoes greet shoppers in local markets, with vendors showcasing every kind of mango from the renowned Chaunsa, Sindhri, and Anwar Ratol to the prized Langra, Fajli, and Dusehri. Every type of variety is readily available. Mango lovers can relish the sweetness of Chaunsa, the tanginess of Sindhri, or explore other unique flavors, making the twin cities a haven for mango connoisseurs. Sara Ali, a mango enthusiast from Islamabad said, "Mangoes are a summertime staple for us as there's nothing like biting into a ripe, juicy Chaunsa on a hot summer day." She commented that Mangoes are more than just a fruit and they are a part of Pakistan's culture, adding that everyone looks forward to the season all year round. For many, mangoes evoke memories of childhood summers spent savouring the fruit under the shade of trees. The variety of mangoes available has also sparked a sense of adventure among consumers. A resident of Rawalpindi said "I love trying different types of mangoes. Last week, I had Sindhri, and this week, I am trying Anwar Ratol. Each variety has its own unique taste". She said that mangoes are her favourite summer treat, and she loves trying different varieties. "I am stocking up on mangoes for the week. They're perfect for snacking, smoothies or desserts," she commented. As people enjoy the mango season, vendors are working hard to meet the demand. A fruit vendor in Islamabad's F-6 market, Muhammad Ali, shared that "We are importing mangoes from the best orchards in Sindh and Punjab to ensure top quality and flavour. He said that Mangoes are flying off the shelves and they are having a great season so far, with Chaunsa and Sindhri being the top sellers. He further said that he has been selling mangoes for years, and that this season's batch is one of the best. Vendors are seeing a lot of repeat customers.
