The center of orange groves in Dir

Oranges grown in Rabbat are sold for Rs3,000 per 100 pieces in the market

DIR LOWER:

Rabbat is a beautiful town located on the footsteps of snow-capped mountains on the bank of River Panjgura in Lower Dir, a few kilometers away from Timergara city.

In K-P, it is known for its orange groves that are sold for Rs3,000 per 100 pieces in the market. For many people Rabbat and oranges are synonymous.

For centuries, Upper and Lower Dir are known for their delicious oranges that are in great demand throughout the province. Rabbat and Khal are the two places that produce delicious oranges which have no match across the country.

“Our groves are irrigated by Panjgura River which is fed by natural steams and glaciers in the mountains. This is the only secret of its great taste,” said a farmer Gul Muhammad while speaking to The Express Tribune. Agriculture expert Habibul Haq said that the weather and soil in Dir was especially suitable for the growth of oranges and the produce across all Dir was similar in taste and characteristics.

“When you plant a tree, the natural fertilizer given to these trees in the initial years determines the taste and quality of its fruits in the coming years but the local farmers do not understand this. They think that there is something in the water which determines the taste,” he explained, adding that the more you care about the plant the better.

Local farmers, however, insist that they care for all the plants the same way but the sandy soil and most importantly the mineral rich water coming from the nearby mountains is the real secret behind the great taste of Rabbat’s and Khal’s oranges. It is pertinent to mention that five kinds of oranges are grown locally including Washington and Blood Red. The Blood Red orange of Rabbat is the most purchased one due to its colour and unique taste.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2021.