Mango growers' association members and growers' meeting said that the government department and agriculture sector did not take up the matter properly. Mango growers said that exporters' trend remained very dull on directly purchasing mangoes from orchards, which badly affected international markets competition.
The Ministry of Agriculture Marketing failed in playing any role at any level in the field while growers could not get reasonable incentives on their most sensitive produce.
Speaking on the occasion, MGA chief Zahid Hussein Gardezi said that the government took very lean interest in solving growers' problems despite continuously repeating their requests to the government. Mango growers have been facing critical crises as a result of lack of interest and non-cooperative policies of the government.
He underlined need for immediate establishment of mango research institute in Multan which is declared 'Mango City' by the Punjab government, and added that the association has decided to approach authorities and BZU Agriculture College in this regard.
The mango growers expressed concern over stagnant mango prices for last 15 years compared to inputs prices which have increased considerably.
Mango growers criticised black-marketing of calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate and nitrophos after Rs 100 increase in urea bag price and demanded frequent water supply to orchards and prevention from irrigation channels' pollution from chemicals. Growers demanded of the irrigation and environment department not to allow polluted water for agriculture purposes because the polluted water was destroying valuable mango orchards.
They demanded establishment of most modern marketing system in Multan and mango export processing zone and criticised government for not holding mango show this year for promotion of mango exports.
The growers who spoke on the occasion included Khizar Abbas Bukhari, Bashir Awan, Javed Akhtar Jamali, Zahid Ali Bukhari and others.