Good news: Citrus growers to be given new equipment at subsidised rates

Minister says this would help increase exports

LAHORE: The government is considering spending Rs11 billion to provide sophisticated agricultural machinery to citrus fruit growers on subsidised rates, Minister for Agriculture Farrukh Javed said in a department meeting in Sargodha on Monday.  The minister also visited several citrus farms in Sargodha.



The Punjab produces close to 1.9 million metric tonnes of citrus fruit each year, half of which comes from citrus farms in Sargodha, he said. The government is looking to help citrus growers in Sargodha maximise their yield. “Last year, we exported close to 350,000 metric tonnes of citrus fruit,” the minister said. The government is planning on helping citrus growers in Sargodha to target more export markets. “This is essential for ensuring the stability and growth of our economy.”

Agriculture Extension Director General Anjum Ali and Citrus Research Institute Director Altafur Rehman were present in the meeting.

They told the minister that Sargodha’s orchards produced 17 per cent of the total fruit in the country and 45 per cent of the fruit exported from Pakistan was grown in Sargodha.

Each year, almost 1.3 million tonnes of high quality citrus fruit was grown in Sargodha, they said. The yield could be enhanced if farmers incorporated modern farming equipment and techniques.

Javed said the government was working hard to provide standardised and certified seeds to farmers.

Rehman said of the 1.2 million acres of cultivated land in Sargodha, citrus fruit was grown on more than 230,000 acres. He said the Citrus Research Institute provided farmers complete guidance regarding the latest technology, potential diseases, seed supply and access to international markets.

“We provide the farmers low cost seed and our teams visit citrus farms regularly to check if the growers need help in any way.”

He the Federal Ministry of Food Security had launched a competition among citrus farmers. The top three citrus fruit growers will be awarded prizes.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th,  2016.