LAHORE: The government has been urged to promote the mango pulp industry to help increase the country`s value-added exports to earn preciousforeign exchange.

`The government should facilitate the [mango] pulp industry by offering lowinterest Knancing to help maximise exports. The commerce ministry may initiate theproposalforthepurpose before the Economic Coordination Committee of the federal cabinet,` says Ahmad Javed, a mango grower-cum-exporter.

As the average shelf life of mango pulp is around two years, for conversion of mango fruit into natural pulp (without any additives and preservatives) through aseptic pacl(ing may increase the fruit`s shelf life up to 24 months and help increase exports by $500 million, he claims.

The establishment of a `Mango Development Council` having representation of farmers, exporters, cold chain sector and research institutes, is vital to increase the export volumes, Mr Javed suggests.