Citrus festival organised

Islamabad:A five-day orange/citrus festival was organised by Aman Citrus Farm at the Centaurus Mall here on Thursday. The festival was inaugurated by Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, says a press release.

The festival will be showcasing various premium citrus varieties such as deep red, fruiter, grapefruit, kinnow, mossami, shakri, valencia late, China lemon, hybrid sweet lime, and meyer lemon. This festival serves as a platform to directly connect the agricultural sector with consumers. The initiative aims to support local farmers, enhance direct connections with consumers, and facilitate interactions with the international audience and exporters.

Citrus production in Pakistan constitutes 37.8% of the total fruit production. Approximately 2.2 million metric tons of citrus fruits, primarily Kinnow, are produced on 343,173 acres. Citrus has become a significant export commodity, with global exports growing at a rate of 15%. Over the past decade, Pakistan’s citrus exports have experienced a substantial growth rate of 278%, accounting for an average of 4% of the total citrus production in the country. This highlights the sector’s considerable potential for further expansion.

Speaking with the audience, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, (CEO the Centaurus, President IDA) emphasised the need to address weaknesses, including skills and technological gaps, in both pre and post-harvest stages of citrus production. The focus is on minimising production losses, enhancing market access for citrus exports from Pakistan, and maximising overall productivity. He estimated that a modest reduction of 10% in post-harvest losses could potentially double exports, create over 200 new jobs, benefit 560 rural households, and bring over 2,000 hectares under improved technologies and management practices.