Pakistan’s citrus growers, scientists and students have gathered for a two-day international workshop aimed at strengthening one of the country’s most important agricultural sectors. The event, titled “Prospects of Climate Smart Citrus Production: Adaptive Strategies for a Changing World,” was held at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF), from February 4 to 5.
The workshop was jointly organized by UAF’s Institute of Horticultural Sciences and the Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU)’s China-Pakistan Horticulture Research and Demonstration Center in Wuhan. The second annual event builds on last year’s successful workshop and focuses on practical knowledge sharing to help Pakistan’s citrus industry grow and compete globally.
Citrus is Pakistan’s leading fruit crop, making the country the world’s 15th largest producer and 6th largest exporter. However, with less than 1.3% of the global export market, there is significant room for growth. A major exhibition at the workshop showcased 25 different varieties of citrus, including mandarins, sweet oranges and grapefruits, highlighting the potential for diversity and quality improvement.
A key focus of the workshop was the transfer of practical agricultural knowledge. Professor Liu Yongzhong from HZAU led hands-on training for local growers on advanced pruning techniques aimed at maintaining tree health and boosting annual yields. He also highlighted the successful introduction of nine high-quality Chinese citrus cultivars into Pakistan last year, which have been propagated and will be transplanted during the upcoming monsoon season.
