Modern orchard management can increase mangoes’ yield

The region of south Punjab, also known as the “Kingdom of Mangoes”, is popular from Europe to the Middle Eastern countries for the exotic flavour and aroma of its unique mangoes.

A large number of mango trees is visible on a vast landscape almost at every field from Multan to Muzaffargarh and Khanewal to Rahim Yar Khan.

Mango orchards are located over thousands of acres in the region — Multan is at the top in cultivation of the fruit as it has over 31,000 hectares of land covered with mango trees.

Similarly, Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh and Khanewal are placed in second, third and fourth positions respectively with cultivation areas of 26,000, 19,000 and 14,000 hectares respectively.

Among hundreds of varieties of mangoes, only 25 to 30 are being cultivated on a commercial scale. The varieties include Chaunsa, Sindhri, Langra, Dausehri, Anwar Ratol, Saroli, Samar Bahisht, Tota Pari, Fajri, Neelum, Alphanso, Almas, Sanwal, Surkha, Sunera and Desi.

A well-known mango grower Shahid Hameed Bhutta has said that Pakistan produces about 1.8 million tons of mangoes annually which could further be enhanced by applying modern technology and awareness among the mango growers. He said, “High cost of inputs especially fertilizers, pesticides, electricity bills and climate change are the main reasons behind the low production”. The government should ensure easy availability of cheap inputs to mango growers for maximum production, he added.

He also said, “On an average, the growers are getting 12 tons mangoes per hectare, which could be increased to 20 tons by focusing on modern orchard management practices”.

Another mango grower Laique Sheikhan from Nawabpur village stated that majority of the growers are poor and they could not afford expenses on proper management of orchards including application of fertilizers, pruning and suitable inter-cropping combinations etc. He said, “The growers also lack awareness about modern techniques and use of balanced fertilizer”.

He said that production, quality, shape and size of mangoes could be improved, and added that potassium is a costly fertilizer and the growers ignored its application that resulted in low production. The growers did not know about the proper time for irrigation for orchards, he opined.  The Pakistani mangoes are matchless in taste and aroma and the fruit export can bring a handsome amount of foreign exchange to the national kitty.

Sheikhan observed that some growers are also taking interest in export and online sale of the fruit in the region which is yielding positive impacts. He however suggested that some more interventions were needed to enhance the production of the fruit and improve the living standard of the growers.

Ex-president Mango Growers Association retired Maj Tariq has said that many citizens purchase huge quantity of mangoes for gifting purpose during the peak season. He stated that Multan is a city of gift-givers.

Tariq suggested that growers could export mango pulp and dried mangoes.

Director Mango Research Institute (MRI) Abdul Ghaffar Garewal has stated that growers should take more interest in the export of the fruit. He also stated that there was no match of Pakistani mangoes in taste.

Pakistan is exporting nearly six to seven per cent of its produce. He suggested that growers and exporters should explore new markets and export maximum mangoes in order to earn huge amounts for quality production. This will not only help to change the lifestyle of growers but will also help in securing maximum foreign exchange. The handsome income would also help growers pay more focus on orchard management.

Responding to a query about suggestion for small growers, Garewal observed that growers should keep plant population complete, which is nearly 75 trees in an acre. Usually, there are more gaps in the field which also reduces production, he commented. Secondly, the growers should also focus on health of plants. The healthy plant will offer more quality production. Thirdly, the growers should take special care of nutritional needs of the mango trees. Mango taste, its colour, size and shape could be improved by fulfilling nutritional requirement of the plants.

The director Mango Research Institute also suggested promotion of high-density plantation. In high-density plantation, nearly 1,500 plants could be sown in an acre. The plants are trimmed regularly to keep their spread under control.

High-density orchards are much easier to manage. Similarly, it also offers high production — nearly 25 tons — said Abdul Ghaffar Garewal.

In traditional style orchards, he proposed that the growers should cultivate such crops whose irrigation requirement resembles the needs of mango plants. Sometimes, excessive or low irrigation damages the plant’s fruit, he warned.—APP