Efforts under way to improve citrus quality

Bosan for adopting best practices, controlling pests, better crop handling

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan enjoys a huge potential in citrus production and the government is making all-out efforts to enhance its productivity and quality, said Federal Minister of National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan.

Chairing a meeting of a committee constituted by the prime minister on citrus crop development, Bosan called for addressing the issues pertaining to citrus nursery, best agriculture practices, plant nutrition, pruning, intercropping, mechanisation, drainage, pest control and poor post-harvest handling.

The participants held a detailed discussion on composition of a citrus development board. The committee is expected to suggest the composition and mandate of the board in the upcoming meeting.

Agriculture Extension Punjab Director General Dr Anjum Ali highlighted salient features of the project on citrus productivity and quality improvement. Citrus production during 2014-15 was recorded at 2.352 million tons whereas 370,000 tons were exported, constituting 15.73% of total production. “A similar trend is expected this year as well,” said the DG.

Ali briefed the minister on projects undertaken in Punjab and noted that the incidence of citrus canker in Sargodha had dropped from 45% to 20% compared to the previous year because of measures taken by the government.

A representative of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa said 9,880 acres were brought under citrus cultivation in the province with production standing at 31,600 tons and yield at 3.2 tons per acre. “Measures are under way to increase the productivity and improve the quality,” he said.

The meeting participants decided that the National Agricultural Research Centre (Narc) would initiate training sessions for citrus growers on modern agricultural lines for achieving better quality and yield. It was proposed that the Citrus Research Institute may be upgraded to a centre of excellence for citrus promotion.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2016.

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