HYDERABAD, June 7: Growers in Sindh have predicted 30 per cent decline in mango production this year.

Last year, 61,232 tons of mango was exported to 47 countries in 2006-07 against a production of about 1.719 million tons. In 2005-06 mango export stood at 105,210 tons.

Growers prefer to give their orchards on contract instead of selling their produce to exporters. The tendency has resulted in gradual decline in fruit exports.

Imdad Nizamani, a progressive mango grower from Tando Allah Yar, said that the contractors were least bothered about sound techniques of picking, grading and maintenance of shelf life of the fruit that affect its quality badly.

They are only interested in sending mangoes to fruit markets after making their assessment of per acre production.

According to Trade Development Authority of Pakistan deputy director in Hyderabad Abdul Salam Abbasi a mango orchard of about 600 acres is given to the contractor for Rs3.1 million. He said that there were certain benchmarks that had to be ensured by the growers before they export mango.

Under the WTO an exporter is to submit an undertaking that certain pesticides and sprays have not been used during cultivation. In the absence of such undertaking the consignment could be confiscated by the Customs of the importing countries.

“There is no liaison between the growers and exporters to oversee the entire process of picking and processing before it is exported,” the TDAP official said. Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas serve as major outlets for mango’s despatch to Karachi for export.

Due to the short production, ‘Sindhri’, the popular mango variety, is being sold now-a-days between Rs25 to Rs30 per kg as compared to Rs18 to Rs20 normally.