Knowledge Exchange Tour on Food Loss Mitigation Brings Pakistani Mango Farmers to Sri Lanka to Share Cultivation Practices and Address Challenges in Mango Value Chains

A group of Pakistani mango farmers participated in a knowledge exchange tour to Sri Lanka, aiming to share best practices in mango cultivation techniques in both countries and to strengthen technological, trade, and policy-level collaborations between the two nations. This programme was organised by IPS in collaboration with the Quaid-i-Azam University in Pakistan and the Lanka Fruit and Vegetable Producers, Processors, and Exporters Association (LFVPPEA) as part of an ongoing IPS research study, ‘Developing Food Loss Reduction Pathways Through Smart Business Practices in Mango and Tomato Value Chains in Pakistan and Sri Lanka’. The study is funded by Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR).

IPS Research Fellow Dr. Manoj Thibbotuwawa, IPS Research Assistant Mr. Chandula Idirisinghe, and University of Queensland (UQ) Professor Thilak Mallawaarachchi were among the local participants. The tour took place from the 2nd to the 7th of December.

Mango, the second most widely cultivated fruit in Sri Lanka, is experiencing a 12.2% production boost and 5% yield improvement over the past two decades. However, challenges such as low productivity, poor post-harvest management, pests and diseases, poor market access, climate change, inadequate R&D, and low value addition hinder its growth. Pakistan, a leading mango producer, faces similar challenges, despite its high-quality varieties and significant export potential. Knowledge exchange between Pakistan and Sri Lanka mango stakeholders is crucial for addressing shared challenges, improving practices and enhancing production.

As part of the tour, participants explored Sri Lanka’s mango production techniques through visits to both small-scale and commercial mango farms. They engaged with local government and commercial sector specialists to exchange insights. Key visits included Ellawala Horticulture, DIMO Agri Technology Park, and the Dambulla Mango Cluster of the Agriculture Sector Modernisation Project (ASMP). Discussions were also held at institutions such as the Department of Agriculture’s (DOA) National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS), the National Institute of Post Harvest Management (NIPHM), and the Horticultural Crop Research and Development Institute (HORDI).

The programme concluded with a panel discussion on “Can Mango be the Next Big Export?” at the Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics Association’s (SAEA) Annual Forum, held at the University of Peradeniya. Researchers, policymakers, industry experts, and students participated in this event, fostering dialogue on the future of mango exports and its potential.

Visitors Perspective: Knowledge Exchange Tour Pakistan Report

Video: Knowledge exchange Tour of Pakistani Mango farmers to Sri Lanka