SRI LANKA - MANGO ADVISORY

Our Senior Associate Partner, Ted Winston, (see Our Team page on this web site for Ted's profile) has just completed an assignment in Sri Lanka. This successful assistance effort has resulted in expert technical advice delivered to the client and a request for regular visits to follow.

Ted worked with the Nelna Agri Business (NAB) through ACDI/VOCA, (see Note#1 below) an American not-for-profit enterprise that implements a $233,000 sub-award under the USAID Facilitating Economic Growth in Sri Lanka program through the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) Leader with Associates mechanism. The prime implementer is the International Executive Service Corps. The program contributes to the economic revitalization of the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka by providing technical services to support workforce development and connect regional economies. 

In 2007 NAB initiated a pilot mango cultivation program with the specialty TJC mango cultivar covering 48 hectares at Embilipitya; TJC mango is a fast growing high yielding variety which is very responsive to flower inducing treatments. This plantation has 8,000 trees ranging from 1 year to 5 years old. The company also acquired 250 ha. land at Buttala in the Moneragala district where they are establishing a 100,000 tree venture – the first large scale planting in Sri Lanka. .

The objective of the assignment was to assist NAB identify and introduce best practices in crop management through mechanized systems of managing and maintaining mango plantations, identify necessary inputs, machinery and equipment to achieve year round production of quality TJC mango for the local and export markets.

Ted demonstrated proper tree training to the project managers and made a series of recommendations covering nutrition, out of season production, pruning and fruit protection and quality. A number of post harvest breakdown issues were identified as an imbalance of calcium/nitrogen, production practices will be altered. He initiated the first version of a “TJC Best Crop Practices Manual” which will now need to be developed further as the plantations develop.

Note#1: FoodWorks is also cooperating with ACDI/VOCA in Zambia via our affiliate, LDA-Zambia

For more information on this post please contact Ted Winston directly on: twinston@qld.chariot.net.au

YES MINISTER

We sit again around an enormous table with the Minister (Interim) for Finance Dr. Salman Shah (first on the left). This was a meeting relating to the financing of horticulture as part of the on-going Task Force for which CSF (via Geoff JQB) is providing the secretariat. On the right is Amir Jahangir our senior media consultant and GJQB writing the minutes. The meeting successfully promulgated Guidelines for investing in the industry prepared by the State Bank of Pakistan and approved by the Minister at this meeting.

HORTICULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN

The Pakistan Horticulture and Export Development Board is the leading organisation in this country for promoting an industry that contributes 12% to agricultural GDP and for which there is enormous potential. Pakistan grows the full range of horticultural crops from tropical bananas in coastal Sindh, through mango and citrus in Punjab, apples and grapes in Balochistan to apricots, peaches and unique medicinal plants such as Sea Buckthorn in the Himalayan foothills. Floriculture is another sub-sector that offers huge opportunities for investment. FoodWorks (via the Competitive Support Fund) is working with PHDEB and an inter-ministerial Task Force to formulate initiatives covering all aspects of the industry. However the focus is on improving quality especially via infrastructure. A multi-million dollar project financed by the World Bank entitled the "Northern Trade Corridor" includes provision for building packhouses, cool storage facilities and a pool of reefer containers. For more information check out the PHDEB website at http://www.phdeb.org.pk/ or contact the CEO Mr. Shamoon Sadiq on ssadiq@phdeb.org.pk

TASK FORCE FOR HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY

FoodWorks has worked with the Competitiveness Support Fund in Pakistan to establish a Task Force on Horticulture Finance and Competitiveness. Meetings have been held covering finance, infrastructure (especially transport, logistics and aspects such as cool chains), production/processing/marketing and quality control and standards. The first phase of this work will be completed in September 2007 with related work being carried forwards by various line ministries and private sector partners. The goal of the Task Force is to significantly increase the volume and quality of exports of major crops such as mango, kinnow, peaches, apples. For more information on what CSF and FoodWorks are doing in horticulture please check the CSF website on http://www.competitiveness.org.pk/