Pakistan is one of the world's leading mango producing and exporting countries. However, Pakistan's mango industry is beset with a number of chain-wide challenges that not only lower the value of mangoes to consumers and reduce the profitability of value chain actors, but also hinder the industry's potential contribution to the country's socio-economic development. As a result, there is now a growing realisation that the mango industry must be developed on a sustainable basis. This coincides with an accelerating drive towards sustainable development of agri-food industries around the world, in order to provide growing populations with adequate supplies of safe and affordable food.Thus, this study aimed to find out how the performance of value chains could be improved in order to bring sustainable development to Pakistan's mango industry. It focused on four issues: 1) consumers' mango value preferences and the implications of these preferences for the industry's development; 2) the structure and performance of the mango industry; 3) constraints on sustainable development of the industry; and 4) measures needed to address consumer, economic, social and environmental issues in the value chains so as to promote industry's sustainable development.A conceptual framework that integrated value chain and triple bottom line (TBL) sustainable development approaches was developed arguing that sustainable development could not be achieved without improving economic, social and environmental performance across entire value chains. A case study methodology was adopted and the case study participants included consumers, value chain actors and public stakeholders in the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Sindh.To understand mango value preferences, five focus group discussions involving 40 consumers and a survey of 450 consumers was conducted. Thematic content analysis was performed on focus group data whereas descriptive statistics and clusters analysis were employed to analyse survey data. In order to understand the industry's structure, performance and constraints, 150 in-depth interviews were held with value chain actors such as retailers, wholesalers, commission agents, exporters, preharvest contractors, growers and input suppliers and representatives of public stakeholders. Data from the interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis.Consumer data showed the importance of both intrinsic (search and experience) and extrinsic (safety and marketing) quality attributes in mango buying. In-depth analysis of these attributes revealed three consumer segments -mango lovers, value seekers and safety conscious. Mango lovers concentrated primarily on search and experience attributes and safety conscious attached more importance to safety related attributes. Value seekers however considered all attributes important. In general consumers expressed their dissatisfaction with the mango value delivered to them because of use of Calcium III carbide for mango ripening, retailer malpractices and ineffective government regula...

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This study identified similarities and differences in value preferences of consumers for Kinnows (mandarin) in Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The study sample comprised 540 consumers of Kinnows who were approached for data collection at various retail outlets in the selected cities. Using a questionnaire, consumers were interviewed face-to-face and data were gathered on consumption and purchase preferences and importance consumers attached to various search, experience, safety and marketing-related quality attributes in their purchase considerations. Descriptive statistics were employed to explore basic patterns in the preferences across the four cities. Mean ANOVA and Post-hoc Bonferroni tests helped reveal similarities and dissimilarities in consumption and purchase preferences of consumers. Results indicated statistically significant differences as well as similarities in consumption and purchase preferences for Kinnows in the selected cities. Consumers in Islamabad attached importance to all Kinnow quality attributes and appeared to be value seekers. Except few marketing, search and experience attributes, their preferences were found similar to those living in Rawalpindi. While consumers in Lahore and Faisalabad mostly resembled in their preferences and considered comparatively fewer quality attributes important. The study urged the Kinnow value chain actors to consider these similarities and differences in preparing and delivering their supplies in these cities. They also need to upgrade their practices for improving search, experience, safety and marketing-related quality attributes of Kinnows. Collaborative relationship and information sharing among them is also needed for improvements in quality attributes. Related public-sector institutions can facilitate them by providing support services needed to upgrade their value chain practices

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This brief explains why weaknesses in Pakistan’s fruit and vegetable production sector are contributing to postharvest losses and outlines how stronger infrastructure and regulations can improve value chains and support development. It offers a comprehensive value chain analysis for products including apples, chilies, and potatoes, and explains the impact of factors such as inadequate storage, transport, packaging, and finance. It recommends that the government works with the private sector to develop modern agriculture markets, overhaul financing for growers, improve infrastructure and strengthen linkages throughout the value chain to cut losses and make the sector more sustainable.

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The retail sector is experiencing a transformation with the entry of modern retailers in Pakistan. As a result, now consumers have a choice of shopping either at traditional or modern retailers. The study is aimed at finding out the determinants of consumer retail format choice between traditional and modern retailers. To this end, primary data were collected through personal interviews of 250 respondents who were intercepted randomly while shopping at different retail places in Lahore and Faisalabad - the two highly populated and major cities in Pakistan. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and binary logit model were employed for the analysis of data. Results indicated age, being accompanied with family while shopping, income and five store-related attributes such as store design and environment, promotion, product quality, employee behavior and location as the important determinants of consumer retail format choice in Pakistan. The study recommends that traditional retailers need to upgrade their businesses and align themselves with changing consumer preferences. Modern retailers should make their store design and environment more attractive, ensure product quality and improve promotional strategies and employee responsiveness for enhancing their customer base. Findings can be useful to the strengthening of both the retail formats in Pakistan.