Pakistan has been working for a long time to tap into American market with its high quality mangoes.
The conditions and requirements set for Pakistani mango exports to US have made it a costly matter, said member Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Ahmad Jawad.
He said till date mango buyers in the US were concerned about the financial feasibility of selling Pakistani mangoes, because of high prices, they may not be able to clinch much of a market except the niche die-hard Pakistani mango fans.
He said the shipping and handling costs come to around $22 for a two kg carton unless they are given more options for shipping and irradiation destinations to bring down costs and facilitate importers to the US.
He said US authorities have designated only one airport, Chicago for Pakistani mangoes from there, the imported fruit would be shipped to a facility in Iowa for irradiation treatment to destroy bacteria and insects and there was also designated one company for said purpose. Despite the availability of local irradiation companies, Pakistani exporters have to accept this condition, he said.
Jawad said till date no progress further how to facilitate this process, adding, I think we may remove this market from our minds in mango case. The US mango lovers who are waiting the Pakistani mangoes from the last many years, once again they are facing disappointment this year too.
Why USAID only focus Europe and the Middle East and helped mango growers for arranging shipments, he added.
A New York Congressman Tom Reed has questioned the decision of the Obama administration on spending $30 million on mango farmers of Pakistan helping them export mango to the US and terming it egregious and wasteful government spending as reported by The Indian Express, he quoted.
Quoting Reed, he said, While domestic fruit farmers struggle to get by, we aid Pakistani farmers. adding the $30 million is part of a $90 million programme funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).Our national debt stands at more than $15,300,000,000,000, said Reed