ISLAMABAD, Feb 22 (Alliance News): The use of protective mango bags in Pakistan is expected to surge to nearly 10 million in 2026, as export prices for bagged fruit rise by around 70 percent, signalling growing confidence in a quality-enhancement technique that is reshaping the country’s mango export sector.
The protective bags, introduced by the Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC), are designed to reduce post-harvest losses, improve fruit quality and enable growers to access high-value international markets.
“This mango protection method has proved a breakthrough for growers and exporters alike,” said Khawar Nadeem, Manager Agri Products at PHDEC, while speaking to Wealth Pakistan.
Pakistan produces approximately 1.8 million tonnes of mangoes annually, yet exports remain limited to around 150,000 tonnes — about 8.3 percent of total production. Industry experts attribute this gap to losses caused by pests, blemishes and post-harvest handling issues, which affect fruit quality and reduce competitiveness in premium markets.
To address these challenges, PHDEC introduced fruit-protection bags that cover hanging mangoes for 30 to 45 days, shielding them from fruit flies, dust and sunburn while reducing reliance on pesticide spraying.
The result is cleaner fruit, improved colour and enhanced shelf appeal, leading to stronger acceptance in high-end markets such as Europe, the United States and Japan.
In global markets, a five-kilogram box of non-bagged mangoes typically sells for around 17 to 18 US dollars, while the same quantity of bagged fruit can fetch up to 30 dollars — a price increase of nearly 70 percent.
The initiative, which began as a small pilot project, has now evolved into a growing industry practice. Initially, farmers were reluctant to adopt the technique due to unfamiliarity and additional labour requirements.
“We began by distributing 150,000 bags among 25 to 30 growers in Sindh and Punjab. As farmers observed the visible improvement in quality and higher returns, adoption increased steadily,” Khawar Nadeem explained.
PHDEC distributed 200,000 mango bags free of cost in both 2022 and 2023, and repeated the same distribution in 2024. By 2025, however, growers and exporters themselves procured nearly one million bags, indicating a transition from subsidised support to commercial adoption.
“Looking ahead, usage is projected to rise to nearly 10 million bags in the upcoming season, reflecting strong industry confidence in the technique,” he added.
At present, the protective bags are imported from China at an estimated cost of around Rs6 per unit. Growers have urged the government and private sector to establish local manufacturing facilities to reduce costs and improve access, particularly for small-scale farmers.
Pakistan ranks as the world’s fifth-largest producer of mangoes, and the fruit remains the country’s second-largest horticultural crop and a key contributor to export earnings. Industry stakeholders believe that wider adoption of bagging technology could significantly enhance Pakistan’s competitiveness in global markets by improving product quality, reducing losses and strengthening branding in premium segments.
Experts emphasise that sustained policy support, local production of packaging materials and continued training of farmers will be critical to fully realise the potential of this innovation and boost Pakistan’s mango exports in the years ahead.
