Pakistan’s mango industry fears a new protocol allowing it to send fruit to Japan will not be workable as exporters struggle to foot the bill for Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT).
The new protocol requires mango exports receive VHT to ensure they are free of fruit fly.
Leading fruit exporters have told Pakistani newspaper the Daily Times they would be unable to afford the required VHT equipment, which would cost around US$5.5m.
One exporter told the newspaper it would take 15 years to recoup the cost of purchasing the equipment, which essentially made it unviable.
Former Chairman of All Pakistan Vegetable and Fruit Exporters Association Abdul Wahid told the newspaper the Pakistani government needed to urge its Japanese counterparts to allow the use of Hot Water Treatment (HWT) as an alternative to VHT. “The cost of the equipment is around Rs5m (US$110,000) to Rs10m (US$220,000), which is financially viable for `the` majority of exporters,” he said.
