Amidst strained relations, mangoes quench a thirst
Arsalan MalikSaturday, August 06, 2011
WASHINGTON: The arrival of Pakistani mangoes in the US and distribution of beautiful packets to those who matter by the Pakistan Embassy, is the culmination of a multiyear effort led by dozens of individuals in various capacities in both Pakistan and the US. The group charged with leading the effort in Pakistan is the National Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (NAPHIS), a child aged subgroup of the now dissolved Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MINFA).
NAPHIS, which was designed in 2006 to be a counterpart of the USDA’s APHIS programme, was and is still led by Malik Zahoor Ahmad as its Director General. Mr Ahmad, a former high ranking diplomat, who served two terms in Washington, found himself in familiar territory with the mango project and the larger NAPHIS initiative, as he dealt with former colleagues from his embassy days.
Arsalan MalikSaturday, August 06, 2011
WASHINGTON: The arrival of Pakistani mangoes in the US and distribution of beautiful packets to those who matter by the Pakistan Embassy, is the culmination of a multiyear effort led by dozens of individuals in various capacities in both Pakistan and the US. The group charged with leading the effort in Pakistan is the National Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (NAPHIS), a child aged subgroup of the now dissolved Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MINFA).
NAPHIS, which was designed in 2006 to be a counterpart of the USDA’s APHIS programme, was and is still led by Malik Zahoor Ahmad as its Director General. Mr Ahmad, a former high ranking diplomat, who served two terms in Washington, found himself in familiar territory with the mango project and the larger NAPHIS initiative, as he dealt with former colleagues from his embassy days.
In fact, several notable members at the US State Department, including the late Richard Holbrooke and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as key liaisons, such as Joe Caroll, the USDA representative in Islamabad, became important players in the successful outcome to which we are all witness this week.
The “Mango Mission”, as it is actually referred to in official documents, is one of the most ambitious joint projects ever undertaken in Pakistan.
The “Mango Mission”, as it is actually referred to in official documents, is one of the most ambitious joint projects ever undertaken in Pakistan.
The first batches of mangos have followed a serpentine path to Chicago.
For decades, Pakistan has been exporting fruit to nearby regional markets, mainly the United Arab Emirates, but the US market has been off limits. In less than five years, NAPHIS has launched itself, gained support from its US counterpart, and led a nationwide initiative to help farmers and agribusiness adhere to international inspection standards, the primary limitation to wider markets.
The process has involved several organizations including the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and the World Food Prize.
The process has involved several organizations including the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and the World Food Prize.
Additionally, officials in Pakistan have held countless seminars and conferences with farmers and business executives, conducted repeat inspections of fruit processing facilities, and have even toured the grasslands of Iowa to better understand best practices.
The credit for the current achievement goes to many, including key officials at the USDA and APHIS, as well as former MINFA Secretary Junaid Iqbal and former Federal Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal.
The credit for the current achievement goes to many, including key officials at the USDA and APHIS, as well as former MINFA Secretary Junaid Iqbal and former Federal Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal.
For a civilian government that is constantly labelled by critics as non-functioning and incapable of accomplishing anything, the achievement is a particularly proud moment. But before any golden mangoes are awarded as trophies, several looming issues remain to be addressed.
First of all, even though the coveted mango-which any Pakistani will tell you is the most delicious in the world-has arrived in Chicago, due to its unavailability to the greater Pakistani-American community, it is currently still viewed as a relative stuck in customs. The major issue, it seems, is cost.
First of all, even though the coveted mango-which any Pakistani will tell you is the most delicious in the world-has arrived in Chicago, due to its unavailability to the greater Pakistani-American community, it is currently still viewed as a relative stuck in customs. The major issue, it seems, is cost.
At the moment, mango arrivals are required to be screened in a proximate fruit processing centre and thus can only be received in Chicago. Transportation costs are already exorbitant, and there isn’t an obvious solution to send mangoes to other major metropolitan areas.
This leaves large communities of Pakistani-Americans in New York, Los Angeles and the Washington D.C. area with little satisfaction and great thirst.
Secondly, the future of the department that is draped with this success is opaque. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the parent group of NAPHIS, was recently dissolved as part of an amendment to the Pakistani constitution. It is not exactly clear what will happen to NAPHIS, how the Mango Mission will be supported in the future, or even whose reigns its operations will fall under.
In any case, it is probably fair to say that the Mango Mission is a success.
Secondly, the future of the department that is draped with this success is opaque. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the parent group of NAPHIS, was recently dissolved as part of an amendment to the Pakistani constitution. It is not exactly clear what will happen to NAPHIS, how the Mango Mission will be supported in the future, or even whose reigns its operations will fall under.
In any case, it is probably fair to say that the Mango Mission is a success.
Its timing, during a period when relations between Pakistan and the US have become unprecedentedly tense, aggrandizes hopes of optimists that the two countries can work together. At least with fruit.
The writer is a financial analyst and independent researcher based in Washington D.C.
