Azeem Ahmed Khan

The Punjab government has initiated a major citrus development project aimed at introducing new varieties to diversify production, expand cultivated land, and increase exports.

The three-year Rs1.2 billion initiative is based on recommendations from the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA). Talking to WealthPK, PFVA Patron-in-Chief Waheed Ahmed highlighted that in 2023, global citrus exports were valued at $14.9 billion, with Pakistan’s share standing at only $118.6 million. He emphasized that introducing new citrus varieties could significantly boost Pakistan’s share in the global market.

Waheed noted that Pakistan’s citrus industry had been dominated by a single variety, kinnow, which had led to several challenges due to quality issues and a short harvest season. He also stressed the need for new citrus growing regions and introduction of both international and local citrus varieties with better disease resistance and broader international appeal.

He highlighted the importance of adapting modern farming practices and developing climate-resilient citrus varieties, pointing out that climate change had seriously impacted kinnow and other fruits in Pakistan. Additionally, Waheed called for introduction of seedless citrus to enhance exports. Although citrus is Pakistan’s leading horticultural export, old varieties and climate change have threatened its future production, he added.

 To address the challenges highlighted by PFVA, the Punjab government has committed to modernizing the citrus industry through the three-year Citrus Rehabilitation Program, which is a part of the Chief Minister’s Farmers Package. This initiative is expected to revitalize Pakistan’s citrus sector and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global horticulture market. The program aims to introduce advanced agricultural technologies, create certified citrus nurseries, and provide the farmers with technical expertise. These nurseries will have the capacity to produce one million plants annually, and high-density orchards with modern irrigation systems will be developed to boost the citrus output.

The initiative will also focus on establishing a citrus research institute in Toba Tek Singh and a citrus research center in Layyah. Funding will also be allocated to the existing Citrus Research Institute, Sargodha to enhance its operations, particularly in developing improved citrus seed varieties and farming techniques.

Efforts will be made to control diseases in citrus orchards, reduce the post-harvest losses, and educate the farmers on proper tree pruning. Moreover, the program will emphasize standardized citrus processing and packaging to meet the international standards. Mobile soil and water testing facilities will be introduced, and large tracts of land will be leased to the investors for establishing modern orchards. A modern pesticide residue testing lab, in collaboration with the global partners, will ensure adherence to the international standards. Furthermore, a comprehensive international market research study will be conducted to identify trends and opportunities for Pakistan’s citrus exports.

Credit: INP-WealthPk