What Makes Pakistan a Leading Mango Producing Country

As an agriculture country Pakistan play an important role in the sector of fruits production. Mango is national fruit of Pakistan, India, and Philippines. Mango is king of fruits and important fruits in the world as well as in Pakistan. Due to its delicious taste it is grown in more then 100 countries. The annual calculated world production of mango is round about 25 million tones. Total area under fruits cultivation is 853.4 thousand hectares and production is 7178.8 thousand tones whole area under mango cultivation is 175 thousand hectares and total production is 1784 thousand toes. Mango is second major fruits crop after citrus in Pakistan and worldwide forth position due to its production.

1595 mango verities are known and only 25-30 verities are commercially grown. Haden, Tommy Atkins, Kent and Keitt are worldwide growing verities. Pakistan found 250 mango verities while Sindhri, Langra, Dusehri, Anwar Rataul, GulabKhas, Sunera, Chaunsa, Black Chaunsa, White Chaunsa, Began Phali, Fajri are important commercial verities of Pakistan due to its diverse and distinctive colours, aromas and tastes.

Pakistan is a leading mango producer that producing 1.8 million tones per year due to its favorable and natural habitat of mangoes. Share of production of mango in Pakistan provinces are 67% in Punjab districts like Multan, Bahawalpur, Muzzaffargarh and Rahim yar Khan, 24% in Sindh districts like Mir pur Khas, Hyderabad and Thatta, and 1% in KPK districts D.I Khan, Peshawar and Mardan.

Mango of Pakistan are rich in fibers, low in calories, and having small amount of carbohydrates, calcium, iron, potassium, and little amount of protein. They are also source of vitamins A, B and C beside antioxidant. Natural agro-climate of Pakistan is more favorable that permit to produce quality of mango but per hectare average annual production is 11.20 tones which is low as compare to China and Brazil.

The reason of Pakistan mangoes popularity due to its sweet taste and attractive golden color. Pakistan mainly export mango to Afghanistan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Germany.

Pakistan climatic condition is favorable in mango production in term of yield and quality but we are not able to get desired result. Many biotic and abiotic factors are involved toward low production one of them is also Mango Sudden Decline Syndrome (MSDS) that spreading in all over the world in mango producing countries.

MSDS is series of dieases symptoms including Blight, Cancker, Gummosis, Twing Blight, Tip dieback and Vascular staining caused by many species of fungus. It is wide spread disease and destructive for new area under cultivation of mango.

Part of tree or complete tree wilt and die due to attack of MSDS. Amber colored gum releases from bark of twinges and trunks and vascular tissues are discolored, firstly blue-grey and chocolate brown progressively. Pin sized holes make by Mango bark beetle which can spread disease may be present on bark.

It is clearly evidence Mango bark beetle and the Brown root rot fungus play an adverse role in spreading of diseases. MSDS is reported in Brazil, Pakistan and Oman.

We can control MSDS by improving their management and cultural practices. Proper supplies of micronutrient like zinc, copper and iron with combination of humic acid play effective role in reducing plant infection. Application of fungicides like Carbendazim, Deconil, Alliete etc. are done to control MSDS.