Azeem Ahmed Khan

The Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) has urged the government to develop new kinnow varieties to address different diseases and climate change. “The kinnow variety in Pakistan is 60 years old, while most fruits typically reach maturity in 25 years. We need to introduce new varieties to replace the old one,” Waheed Ahmed, Patron-in-Chief PFVA, told WealthPK in an exclusive chat.

The changing climate and various diseases are affecting both the quality and quantity of Kinnow production in Pakistan. The shelf life of the fruit has reduced from two months to just 20 days, while prolonged smog in winter has caused a 50% drop in exports over the last six years. Reports show that citrus exports have decreased from 558,376 tonnes, worth $211 million in FY21, to 322,892 tonnes, valued at $91.64 million, in FY24.

“The future of Pakistan’s Kinnow industry depends on quick and strategic actions,” he stressed. Waheed believes if three to four new kinnow varieties are not introduced, the exports will suffer badly in future. The farmers may switch to other crops due to the low citrus yields, and the kinnow processing plants in Bhalwal, the main citrus hub, may close down, he warns.

He expresses concern that the kinnow industry, which provides 400,000 jobs, may collapse, and exports may stop, if these issues are not addressed soon. Waheed alleges that the PFVA’s requests for research to develop new varieties have been rejected by the Punjab government, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, and agricultural research institutes.

He suggests that Pakistan should learn from the other countries that continue to produce strong kinnow crops, despite various challenges. He says Pakistan should grow a seedless kinnow variety, which is becoming more popular worldwide. Countries like China, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, and the United States are examples of successful citrus industries, he says.

The current winter season has been unusually dry, leading to higher than the average temperature, which has reduced production. This lower production has caused supply shortages, leading to higher prices, he adds. Pakistan is the 10th largest producer of kinnow globally, and its citrus fruit exports may generate up to $1 billion in next 10 years.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kinnow Growers Association Rai Ahmed Noor has also expressed concerns over the lack of government support for the kinnow industry, citing several challenges that the farmers are facing. He claims that research centers, which are crucial for innovation and support in agriculture, have not been conducting any work, citing insufficient funding from the government.

According to Rai, shortage of financial resources has rendered the farmers unable to carry out essential research on their own. He alleges that the condition of government-run nurseries is poor, and private nurseries have been able to produce better results. Another major concern raised by Rai is the cyclical nature of Kinnow yields, as the trees tend to produce more fruit in one year and less in the next.

When the trees are overburdened with fruit, they become weak, resulting in lower yields the following season unless the farmers use a lot of fertilizers and pesticides. “However, the farmers lack financial support to afford these essential resources, further compounding their struggles,” he points out. Rai claims that the government has failed to assist the farmers during bumper crops, particularly when it comes to exporting kinnow to the international markets.

He cites the example of Russia, once a key importer of Pakistani kinnow, where exports abruptly stopped last year despite a bumper crop in the country. “This step led to significant losses for the farmers. Consequently, many of them have been unable to afford pesticides and fertilizers this year, leading to a sharp drop in production.”

These problems are not limited to the farmers alone; kinnow processors, who play a crucial role in increasing the fruit’s value and shelf-life through grading, polishing, and packing, also suffered losses due to the low volume of fruit production this year, he adds. Rai agrees that climate change is also impacting kinnow production. “Lack of winter rainfall, combined with groundwater shortages, has severely affected fruit yield this year.

Moreover, kinnow flowers develop late compared to the other citrus fruits, making them vulnerable to temperature changes. When the weather warms up too soon, the flowers are lost, further reducing crop potential,” he explains. Rai urges the government to step up its support for kinnow growers, particularly by ensuring that the bumper crops are exported, and by providing the necessary financial assistance to enable the farmers to continue producing quality kinnow. Without these critical interventions, he warns, the future of the kinnow industry can be at risk.

Credit: INP-WealthPk