MULTAN - Mango Growers Association (MGA) has urged the government to set up post-harvest mango treatment facilities in Multan for direct export of the fruit to the lucrative foreign markets.

MGA Multan said the Irradiation Plant, Hot Water Treatment Plant and Vapour Heat Treatment Plant should be set up in Multan to facilitate the export directly from the mango growing areas of South Punjab.
President Maj (R) Tariq said that establishment of modern Pack Houses at farms in Multan, Shujabad, Kabirwala, Lodhran, Rahim Yar Khan and Sindh with the assistance of USAID was a good beginning; however treatment of mango against pests was a basic requirement.
He added that US and EU markets demand Hot Water and Irradiation Treatment while Japan, India, Australia, Iran and Far East countries desire Hot Water or Vapour Heat Treatment. He said that a Rs 70 million Hot Water Treatment Plant set up in Karachi under public private partnership would hardly benefit growers of South Punjab and was not a cost effective option. It was because that they had to re-pack the mangos after treatment which enhances expenses.