MANGO TREES(آم)-FRUIT TREES

Mangoes in Pakistan herald the arrival of summer.

Widely cultivated in Sindh and Punjab, the aromatic pulpy fruit is easily one of the most popular seasonal delicacies not just in Asia but also in the West. Known as the ‘King of Fruits,’ mangoes are one of the major agricultural exports of Pakistan with high demand all across the world.

Mango arrives in the market in early May and is generally available till the end of September. Although this rich and tropical fruit is grown in over 100 countries, Pakistan remains its fourth-largest producer in the world. As of right now, the country is producing about 1.8 million tons of mangoes, of which approximately 6% are exported.

And let’s not forget, mango is the national fruit of Pakistan.

Here are some more facts about mangoes, such as their nutritional value, their types, the quality and production of Pakistani mangoes along with their positive impact on the economy.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF MANGOES

Mangoes don’t just taste good, they are also extremely nutritious.

Eating mango is really beneficial for health as only one cup of the sliced fruit contains 1.4 grams of protein and 2.6 grams of dietary fibre. It also contains copper, folate, potassium, magnesium and manganese along with vitamins A, B5, B6, C, E and K. Mangoes are also high in antioxidants and packed with immunity-boosting nutrients.

Further nutritional benefits of mangoes include protection against macular degeneration and respiratory diseases. It also lowers the risk of certain types of cancer and strengthens bone health, according to some research studies. Eating mangoes is also good for digestion, reduces the risk of hypertension and works wonders for skin and hair.

So, even if you aren’t a huge fan of this delicious food, try to incorporate it in your diet in the form of smoothies or dessert at the very least.

TYPES OF MANGOES IN PAKISTAN

If you are wondering how many types of mangoes are there, the answer is somewhere around 1500. However, only about 400 varieties of mangoes are grown locally, out of which only 25 to 30 types of mangoes are grown on a commercial scale.

These are some of the most notable and economically important mango varieties in Pakistan that people all over the world desperately wait each summer for.

Sindhri
Gulabkhas
Swarnarice
Baganpalli
Neelum
Chaunsa
Malda
Langra
Dussehri
Anwar Ratol
Samer Bahisht
Fajri

QUALITY OF MANGOES IN PAKISTAN

The length of mangoes in Pakistan varies between 2 and 10 inches and they usually weigh from 8 ounces to 24 ounces. Unlike the round, bright red mangoes available outside Asia, the ones that grow in Pakistan are bright yellow and shaped like a kidney. However, you can also find oval and round mangoes.

The export quality mangoes have relatively lesser fibre and minimal turpentine taste. This is because high-quality fruits are grown with soft water and natural fertilizers instead of hard water and chemical fertilizers.

Appearance-wise, mangoes meant for export are clean and free from any harvest wounds, bruises, insect damage and fungal infections. Moreover, they are mostly uniform in size and weight.

These mangoes are available in domestic markets as well but are comparatively expensive given their high quality.

MANGO PRODUCTION AREAS IN PAKISTAN

On average, mango production in Pakistan stands at around 1.75 million tons per year.

These are some of the most popular areas for mango farming in Pakistan.

Punjab Multan, Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Sadiqabad, Vehari, and Rahim Yar Khan.

Sindh Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad and Thatta.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar and Mardan.

When it comes to the cultivation of mangoes in Pakistan, mango trees cover approximately 105 thousand hectares of agricultural land in Punjab. Sindh comes in second with about 50 thousand hectares of land reserved for mango production while Baluchistan has about 1.4 thousand hectares. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has relatively minor acreage with 0.3 thousand hectares of land, according to a report published by Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Since the weather in Sindh gets warmer a little earlier than it does in Punjab, the province is known to grow the early varieties of mango. Meanwhile, Punjab is famous for growing late varieties which extends the market period of mangoes in Pakistan. The late yield also has a positive impact on mango export.

EXPORT OF MANGOES FROM PAKISTAN

Thanks to their incredible taste and rich aroma, mangoes that are grown in Pakistan have high demand across the world.

According to a report published in a local newspaper, the country exported about 66,000 tons of mangoes in 2017, earning about PKR 5.9 billion. In 2018, the figure rose slightly to 77,000 tons. It is important to mention the yearly mango export from Pakistan is just a fraction of the total yield.

This year, the country is hoping to export around 100,000 tons of mangoes, which will contribute about USD 80 million to the economy.

COUNTRIES WITH HIGH DEMAND FOR PAKISTANI MANGOES

The demand for flavorful Pakistani mangoes is constantly on the rise across the world. However, when it comes to exporting mangoes from Pakistan, these countries top the list:

United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Afghanistan
China
Australia
Azerbaijan
Canada
Netherlands
France
Germany
Bahrain
Belgium

So, which type of mango is your favourite?