PHDEC organises workshop

By MULTAN: The Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC), in collaboration with the Mango Research Institute (MRI), Multan, organised a special workshop for mango growers, orchardists and relevant stakeholders at Lutfabad Mango Farms, Multan. The objective of the workshop was to provide participants with practical training and awareness regarding modern and scientific mango production, improved orchard management, effective disease prevention and management, and modern pruning techniques. During the technical session, Dr Asif ur Rehman, Director MRI, highlighted modern orchard management and production practices, while Dr Javed Iqbal highlighted the importance and benefits of scientific pruning. Engr Shehzad Ahmed, Additional Director General (AMRI), provided guidance on the use of modern agricultural machinery for mechanical pruning, while Abid Hameed Khan, Scientific Officer, provided guidance on the practical aspects of manual and mechanical pruning. Renowned mango grower and exporter Major Tariq Khan (R) shared his practical experiences. Dr Ghazali provided a technical briefing on major mango diseases, their identification, prevention and effective management. The participants also presented their field-related issues before the experts. During the workshop, a practical field demonstration of manual and mechanical pruning was also conducted, providing participants an opportunity to observe the practical application and benefits of modern techniques. PHDEC also briefed the participants on its ongoing initiatives for strengthening the mango value chain, including certification support, mango bagging, technical training, quality improvement, market access, export promotion, post-harvest management and value addition. Asif Tipu briefed the participants on the importance of STS and its future prospects in the mango sector. In his concluding remarks, Chief Executive Officer PHDEC, Muhammad Naseer, termed the workshop an important step towards strengthening linkages between research and the field and expressed his commitment to continued collaboration with all stakeholders for the sustainable development of the mango sector, quality improvement, certification, market development and promotion of exports. The PHDEC team, also invited the participants to participate in upcoming national and international events, including FoodAg Karachi, November 2026, and Horticulture Expo Lahore, March 2027, to promote access to new markets, buyers and business opportunities for Pakistani mangoes and other horticultural products. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026