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itrus fruits such as mandarin, oranges, lemon, lime, grape fruit and tangerines are important owing to their rich nutritional value. These fruits are equally marketable unprocessed and as juices and beverages. As per Food and Agriculture Organisation, global citrus production was 47.4 million in FY 2023-24. US, Spain, China and Brazil are the largest producers of citrus fruit.
Global citrus production is declining continuously due to various factors: biotic as well as abiotic. Some examples of biotic risks associated with the yield decline are diseases such as citrus greening, prevalent in several countries. Other crucial diseases that affect citrus production include; citrus canker, citrus scab, malanose and root rot diseases. Climate change, droughts in combination with poor irrigational practices, soil degradation through leaching of nutrients, salting and backing up waylay the growth of the citrus tree roots are also limits the availability of nutrients to plants. The economic and social problem of citrus production involves unstable prices in the market at the time of harvest, increase in the rate of urbanization, trade disputes and competition. The financial risks have forced some growers to limit planning and investments.
Citrus production has also been affected by aging trees, low genetic variability and imprecise methods of farming resulting in poor pruning, fertilisation and pest control. These factors result in poor tree health, low productivity and susceptibility to pests and diseases.
Regulatory challenges, too, play an important role in the citrus industry. These challenges include; high overhead costs and the need for expensive certification of fruits for processing. The global citrus market is also influenced by trade related measures such as tariffs, quotas and other measures affect the costs, returns and feasibility of citrus production.
Citrus decline in Pakistan is a serious threat to agriculture industry especially in the Punjab, which is the major producer of citrus. This decline is on account of a variety of reasons. Among the biotic factors, citrus greening disease causes yellowing of the leaves, stunted growth and fruits that are misshaped and bitter in taste. Diseases like citrus canker and gummosis pose additional stress on trees and promote pests such as fruit flies.
Poor rainfall distribution and inadequate irrigation practices are the major abiotic stresses that aggravate the problem. Some of the factors causing soil degradation include nutrient depletion, increased salinity and poor management practices. All of these mar the quality and health of root and vigour of the trees.
Citrus production has been affected by various factors such as aging trees, low genetic variability and imprecise methods of farming resulting in poor pruning, fertilisation and pest control. These factors result in poor tree health, low productivity and susceptibility to pests and diseases.
New challenges are arising in the form of effects of climate change that brings about more frequent and erratic weather conditions such as abnormally high temperatures and early rains which seem to overwhelm tree growth.
Then there are socio-economic factors. Most of the farmers are slow to adopt modern farming practices. Many have inadequate capital to purchase some of the quality inputs such as disease-free nursery, the right type of fertilisers and pesticides. Also, extension services and technical knowhow remain restricted. This negatively impacts the implementation of the best practices relating to orchard management.
Some of the challenges in the supply chain include poor preservation and transportation infrastructure that makes the fruits rot after being harvested reducing the viability of citrus farming. This is further aggravated by low political will in supporting and crafting policies. Therefore, the citrus production and quality in Pakistan is constantly declining. The country has been well-known for exporting citrus fruits but is in danger of losing its market share. This could cause a decline in economic conditions of farmers who are solely dependent on citrus crops.
Stakeholders should use new methods to sustain and enhance the citrus crop and the value added citrus industry in Pakistan.
Farmers should adopt integrated pest management, which involves use of bio-control methods. They should continue support of better and competitive disease-free citrus varieties through genetic improvement. As for as abiotic factors are concerned, there is a need for better water supply management and use of modern irrigation techniques like drip or sprinkler irrigation to cut the water losses.
It is important to eradicate the sources of disease and use disease-free plants. Healthy groves or nested nurseries can also help keep the young citrus plants free from diseases. For this purpose, nurseries must employ phytosanitary measures such as the use of certified disease free rootstock and scion. Growing new citrus crop from high quality and genetically diverse germplasm is essential in developing its resistance against diseases and other environmental constraints.
The germplasm collections should include both rootstock and scion types which are disease resistance. In addition, it is important to test the new roots’ compatibility for the local soil and climate. Such source can be obtained from germplasm banks to improve plant characteristics such as; disease resistance, drought tolerance and fruits quality. The use of throbbing and controls help in realising the best given germplasm and its distribution to the farmers.
Adoption of disease-free nursery and improved germplasm development is important for the rejuvenation of the citrus industry.
The writer heads the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sargodha. He he can be reached at rashad.mukhtaruos.edu.pk