Mango growers to get GlobalGAP certification for access

LAHORE - For having better access to European and US high-valued markets, three Produce Marketing Organisations of mango growers will get their orchards GlobalGAP certified with the assistance of Agribusiness Support Fund (ASF).

The GlobalGAP certificate is an important international production standard for suppliers of agricultural products to the retail sector in the European supermarkets.  Talking to journalists during their visit to mango orchards in Multan, Agribusiness Support Fund Chief Monitoring Grants Ahmad Ali Shah said that his organisation provides monetary support to small mango exporters in order to boost their exports. He said that exporters are assisted in acquiring international certification besides better packaging facilities to help them gain easy access to mango markets of Europe, US and Canada.

He maintained that Progressive Mango Growers having 720 acres of land and 3,000 tons of annual production is the first PMO to undergo the audit, which will enable them to have access to high value European markets, big super stores and chain stores across the world.

He said that at present one of the PMO is passing through external audit on September 02, 2008 and after the audit they will get GlobalGAP certificates to supply their mangoes to international branded stores.

He said that Agribusiness Support Fund provides farmers and entrepreneurs with demand-driven technical and managerial services on a matching grant basis to improve their productivity, competitiveness and creditworthiness to access financing for their enterprises.

He said that ASF is a 'Not for Profit Company' registered under Section 42 of the Companies Ordinance. It was established by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Livestock (MINFAL) with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the context of the Agribusiness Development and Diversification Project. The company is governed by a private-sector led, independent Board of Directors.

He said that ASF has extended a grant of around Rs 4 million to these three PMOs on 50-50 basis to upgrade their orchards-related facilities, develop a record-keeping system in their orchards right from plantation of a plant, production, packaging and grading of the produce which is a prerequisite to fetch high value for the fruit in the European and other markets.Shah said that they had started this project last year for mango growers keeping in view the tough requirements laid down by the European and high value markets so as enabling the growers to fetch maximum produce for their fruits. He said that three PMOs applied with the ASF for grants in this regard.

Ahmad Shah said that this would enable the exporters to have their 3,000 tonnes of certified fruit available to tap the potential of European as well as non-traditional markets such as Singapore.The members of PMOs have already toured Singapore and soon will be visiting UK to make room for their produce, he added.

Head of the Progressive Mango Growers group, Saleem Alizai appreciating the ASF and its support to the farmers said that now the government should also play its role for promotion of mango exports. He said that they needed a full-fledge packaging house, ripening chambers, blast chillers and a big airport at Multan which could entertain wide body cargo carriers to curtail the shipment time.

On this occasion, Major (R) Tariq Khan, while showing the visiting journalists improved orchards, storage and packing house facilities, said that this certification require hygiene, safety and quality and covers the topics traceability, record keeping, varieties and root-stocks.

, site history and site management, soil and substrate management, fertiliser usage, irrigation, crop protection, harvesting, post-harvest treatments, waste and pollution management, recycling, worker health, safety and welfare, environmental issues and internal audits.

It is to be noted that the European food retailers and the Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group (EUREP) aim to promote good production practices in the agricultural sector in order to ensure food safety. EUREP has developed a framework for Good Agricultural Practice, called EUREPGAP, and elaborated these into specific standards for the production of fruits and vegetables, combinable crops, livestock, feed and flowers. Later this certification had been named as GlobalGAP recently. Thus the GlobalGap certification is must to start supply of Pakistani mangoes in the European markets.