Dr Muhammad Rashid, Director General Agriculture (Research) has urged the agriculture scientists to develop high quality varieties of citrus fruits with highest yield potential so that precious foreign exchange could be earned by increasing export to foreign countries.
He stated this while addressing an awareness seminar on citrus at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad. Seminar was organised by Citrus Research Institute, Sargodha and was attended by research scientists of institute and University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Dr Rashid said that agriculture research must reach the farmers as well as other stakeholders. He advised all sections of the institutes that while devising research priorities proper priority must be given to the users of agriculture research.
Dr Muhammad Aslam, Director Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad who was chief guest on the occasion stated that joint efforts of UAF and AARI scientists are required to solve the problems faced by the citrus growers. He said that citrus decline, water shortage, developing hybrid and seedless kinnow varieties are some of the major challenges faced by agriculture scientists and they should make concerted efforts to meet these challenges.
Altaf-ur-Rahman Khan, Director Citrus Research Institute, Sargodha in his address informed that the institute is conducting research in developing hybrid citrus varieties and producing virus free citrus plants. He told that foliar spray of zinc and boron has proved useful for increasing citrus production.
In the seminar scientists revealed that total production of citrus in the world is 20 million tones. Brazil, USA and China are top citrus producing countries whereas Pakistan only produces two-percent citrus of total world production. In the seminar scientists presented research papers on different aspects of citrus production and causes of low citrus productivity in the country.
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