Two-Day Citrus Growers Conference

Majority of citrus orchards in Pakistan are suffering from citrus greening disease with the little demand in the international markets, posing a question mark on the survival of the its export market in future. This was stated by the speakers at two-day Citrus Growers Conference arranged by Institute of Horticulture Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with Australia-Pakistan Agriculture Linkages Programme II at New Senate Hall. The inaugural session was presided over by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while Project Leader Dr Tahir Khurshid was guest on the occasion. The vice chancellor said that although Pakistan was the standing among the top 10 citrus producing countries but the disease was serious threat to the citrus production that needs immediate measures to cope with the situation. He said due to the traditional ways of farming, harvesting and poor handling, per acre production of citrus was very low compared to other countries. He said that the production will narrow down if steps were not taken to fight the diseases by using micro management tools. He told that the out of total citrus production,10 percent is being exported, only 2% is processed, 40 percent is suffering from post-harvest practices wheras 95 percent of kinnow is being produced in Punjab. He said that if a famers analyses the situation, he would find that he lost many tress in a year because of diseases whereas trees have the life of 40 years. He said that the conference is organized to raise the issue of citrus growers and provide them the solutions to their problems with the interaction of the farming community. He lauded the steps being taken on the part of Australia especially ASLP to uplift the agricultural sector of Pakistan. Taqhir Khurshid said that under ASLP 2, the project is aimed at introducing the germplasm and develop capacity to the extent the marketing season and assist in improving nursery production practices for maintaining and the multiplying the product. He said that they were also working on improving basic crops management practices and to examine the current irrigation practices and to analyze the adaptability of pressurized irrigation systems to end . He said that they will also enhance the citrus crop management research, extension production of Pakistan citrus institutes and industry. He said that the Australia was having 2800 citrus growers and it was easy to provide them information and awareness regarding new researches. But Pakistan was having as many as 3.5 million growers and it was a big task to aware them. IHS Director Prof Dr Amjad Ali Aulak, addressing the inaugural session, said that Pakistan was producing 30 major fruits and among them. He said that the its was the big source of vitamin C and is the in the access of a layman. Dr Munawar Kazmi also highlighted the steps of ASLP II to improve the sector.