PAKISSAN.com

Pakistan as a nation produces about 8 per cent of the world's citrus fruits but sells out only 0.5 per cent of its harvest abroad. These fruits are grown nearly in all the four provinces in varying proportions. But then the product is concentrated in Punjab which grows 95 per cent of the national output. And it is the Sargodha business which alone accounts for 70 per cent of the provincial production.

A major portion of citrus fruits is sold as such (in their original form) in the fresh market. Only an insignificant percentage (one per cent) is converted in juice. The season of availability starts from mid-October and
extends normally upto March. The advent and use of controlled atmosphere cold storage, have, however made it possible sell citrus fruit as late as April extending the market season considerably in fresh condition.

Varieties:

The popular varieties grown in Punjab include oranges, limes and lemons. Approximately about 60 per cent of total citrus production is comprised of mandarin being popularly know as 'Kinnow'.

Quality wise also, 'Kinnow' is the most important variety. It is relished both domestically and internationally for its flavour. It is golden in colour and has a thin loose skin. This variety has been obtained through the cross-breeding of two other varieties 'King' and 'Will Leaf'. Its harvesting starts from end-November extending upto April.

Other varieties of lesser importance include 'Fruiter', 'Malta' and 'Mossambi' harvesting of which starts a months earlier than Kinnow and last upto a month earlier than that of 'Kinnow'.

Practices:

Despite its importance, practices of growing citrus fruits are still primitive. The orchards are also relatively small in size and hardly exceed 12 hectors, depriving them from benefit of economy of scale. They are often
intercropped with fodder and vegetables, particularly with case of new plantations. A survey recently conducted revealed that only abut 70 per cent of them could bear fruit.

Irrigation is applied at 10 to 15 days interval in summer and at about a month's interval in winter. Plant protection measures are only under taken sparingly with the result that pests and diseases are common .Chemical
fertilizer is applied once a year and modern pruning methods are used limitedly.

Per hectare yield varies from variety to variety and also from orchard to orchard. It is highest in the case of 'Kinnow' - averaging about 20 tonnes - and lowest for limes at about 3 tonnes only.

Harvesting, Picking and Grading:

These are undertaken by the owners or hired contractors. Usually picking is done on the maturity of the bulk of the fruits. Some orchard owners, and contractors get fruit picked early to take the advantage of the higher price
in the beginning of the season. Likewise, some also delay the picking in expectation of obtaining higher prices towards the end of the season.

Fruits for internal sale are removed from the tree branches by snapping the stalk with a sickle. Fruit meant for export are removed from the trees by means of scissors. Stalks are mindfully cut close to the shoulders of the
fruits so as not to injure other fruits in packing.

Fruits meant for export are graded into four grades under the 'Citrus Fruits Grading and Marking Rules 1970' by the Federal Marketing Department.

Storage:

Due to absence of use of people, scientific storage methods, the suppliers are not consistent even in the marketing season. This can be regulated over the longer period in accordance with the demand of surpluses are stored properly.

The optimum temperatures and storage life of different varieties of citrus fruit are determined through scientific trails are given in the Table below.

Variety Optimum Storage

storage life

tem. (F) (Week)

Blood-red orange 36-39 18

Valeneralate 36-39 19

Malta 36-39 17

Kinnow 36-39 05

Mandrir

(Tight Skinned) 36-39 17

Lemon 36-39 09

Grape Fruit 45-48 13

Market Prices of citrus fruit fluctuate like all other farm products in accordance with the volumes arrived in different wholesale markets of the country. Generally, they tend to be higher as the season starts due to limited arrivals. They continue falling down with the increase in supplies.

As citrus fruit is one of the important export commodity, its domestic prices are also impacted with the volumes moved into export outlets.

National domestic wholesale prices of three popular varieties of citrus fruit (Grape Fruit, Malta and Kinnow) for the last three seasons have been as under:-

(In Rupees per 100 pieces)

Season Grape Fruit Malta Kinnow

1998-99 285 135 154

1999-2000 250 130 138

2000-01 266 136 150

Source: Federal Agricultural Marketing Deptt. GoP.

All the three varieties followed a similar trend during all the three season under review. This shows that no abnormal situation occurred in the case of citrus fruit.

Exports:

Among different varieties of citrus fruit, Kinnow has a larger export market abroad. Uptil 1970 our largest buyer was Iran followed by Afghanistan.

But export to these countries could not keep that momentum. Iran reportedly managed to develop her own production and Afghanistan, could not import our fruit due to disturbed conditions there. Pakistan, thus, has no
option other than diversifying her export to Gulf States and Malaysia and Singapore in the Far East.

Still Pakistan has, no smooth sailing in the export regime.

According to the 'Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Export Marketing Study' conducted by a consulting firm Produces Studies Ltd. in the UK the following constraints to successful export development have been identified:-

- Lack of appropriate business organisation in the horticultural export sector.

- Production problems concerning planting material, irrigational methods, husbandry practices, disease and pest control for producing required quality for export

- Lack of appropriate procurement methods, cooling system, grading facilities, acceptable packaging, refrigerated transport with the country and airport facilities.

- Inadequate air and freight space in certain periods and unexploitation of refrigerated sea fraught.

Strategies:

The above study has also indicated the strategies to overcome the constraints as have been summarised below:

- The authorities should realize that exports cannot be built upon 'surpluses'. It should, therefore adopt 'a grow for export' policy.

- The government should also provide the environment for flourishing the private sector initiative.

- Necessary legislation on request to enforce quarantine regulation and pesticide residue.

- Substantial improvements need to be made in research and development activities. Also, changes need to be made in respect licensing and inspection arrangements.

- Production base may be improved by streamlining planting material, sub cultivation, fertilizer, pest and disease control.

- Procurement of supplies should be made, direct from the production centres instead of wholesale markets.

- Individual exporters may establish their own pack house, cooling and cold storage facilities.

- Improved packaging material available in the country may be used and minimum standards be prescribed.

- Transport improvements all required for the domestic movement of produces and for export shipments.

- Necessary improvement in airport and seaport facilities may be made.

- Training facilities may be provided in the harvest and post- harvest technology as well as export marketing.

- An exporters Association and facilitating body of private and public sectors be set up to perform important non-trading functions relating to communication promotion and link with overseas bodies.