Pakistan is focusing only on two fruits including citrus and mangoes despite the fact that the country is blessed with fertile land, best cropping system and ecological zone. Keeping in view, the country can earn heavy foreign exchange by promoting the cultivation of other fruits including guava, dates, water melon, pomegranate and strawberry.
This was stated by speakers while addressing a one-day seminar on Pre- and Post-harvest technology of selected fruits in Punjab arranged by the Institute of Horticulture Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The session was chaired by UAF Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Director General Dr Noor-ul-Islam, Punjab Extension Director General Dr Anjum Bhuttar and PARB Chief Executive Dr Mubarik Ali were the guests of honour at the occasion.
Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan suggested kicking off a massive campaign to promote the cultivation of other fruits in the country by giving awareness to the farming community regarding latest practices in order to boost up economy. He said that Punjab Extension Department would start the campaign in collaboration with the UAF. He said that many fruits across the country are under the grip of Fruit Fly that must be curtailed by initiating researches and giving the awareness to the people. He also stressed the need to introduce new varieties of fruits keeping in view our climate and cropping system that would a step to increase the productivity. He said that non-availability of cold-storages and other post-harvest technologies to the common farmers is a grave concern, responsible for the loss of millions of rupees to the country. He said new fruits and vegetables markets should be set up in every corner of the country in order to give relief to the farmers and common men. He suggested the Punjab Horticulture Department to grow the fruit plants besides the roads and other places to earn money.