Sudden death of citrus and new challenges of
insects on citrus plants have threatened to minimise yield potential of
country's best exportable fruit.
This was stated by Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture Faisalabad while delivering his presidential address to the participants of two-day seminar on "New Challenges of Insects on Citrus Plant" organised by the Department of Agricultural Entomology in New Senate Hall.
Dr Iqrar urged the need for disease and virus free sanitation nursery mechanism in order to replace traditionally grown plants with certified citrus plants.
He added Pakistan depended much on agricultural commodities particularly fruits, vegetables and cut-flowers as best exportable articles to occupy international market. He said that those articles had attracted investors from all over the world.
UAF VC said that citrus and mangoes had fascinated diaspora stretching from Australia to Middle-East in the past and would remain on demand in future as well.
He added that citrus especially Kinnow mandarin produced in Pakistan doubtlessly had been engrossed in many agreements with Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Middle East. He further said that WTO had placed numerous challenges as well as created opportunities for agricultural exports.
Muzammil Sultan, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FCCI) urged the need for collaboration of various stakeholders particularly industrialists and traders with HRD organisations to exploit maximum export potential of world's best stuff of fruits and vegetables grown in Pakistan. He added that in the international trade arena, the issues of marketing with established quality and standards had become more pronounced and complicated.
Professor Dr Muhammad Ashfaq, Dean Faculty of Agriculture said Pakistan had more than 20 agro ecological zones having potential to grow more than 500 crops but unfortunately only 35 crops were being grown in the country. He added that our farming community had never grown citrus as a primary crop resultantly due to mix intercropping practices citrus production was being decreased.
Professor Dr Anjum Sohail, Chairman Department of Entomology said the standards required in the trade included pre and post-harvest indicator pesticides residues, blemishes and warts severely impede the citrus export particularly to EU markets. Director Horticulture Punjab, M Asif Khan while referring the importance of diseases and insect pests reiterated that about 60 years ago there were no citrus diseases but now 30 economically important viruses and diseases had been recognised world-wide.
Professor Dr Sohail Ahmad said that most of virus-like diseases were common in nursery and orchards which were being transmitted through grafting or insects. He maintained that citrus tristeza closterovirus (CTV) greening and canker were blatant examples of insect transmitted diseases which were needed to be identify and controlled. Riaz Mehmood and other speakers also spoke on the occasion.
This was stated by Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture Faisalabad while delivering his presidential address to the participants of two-day seminar on "New Challenges of Insects on Citrus Plant" organised by the Department of Agricultural Entomology in New Senate Hall.
Dr Iqrar urged the need for disease and virus free sanitation nursery mechanism in order to replace traditionally grown plants with certified citrus plants.
He added Pakistan depended much on agricultural commodities particularly fruits, vegetables and cut-flowers as best exportable articles to occupy international market. He said that those articles had attracted investors from all over the world.
UAF VC said that citrus and mangoes had fascinated diaspora stretching from Australia to Middle-East in the past and would remain on demand in future as well.
He added that citrus especially Kinnow mandarin produced in Pakistan doubtlessly had been engrossed in many agreements with Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Middle East. He further said that WTO had placed numerous challenges as well as created opportunities for agricultural exports.
Muzammil Sultan, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FCCI) urged the need for collaboration of various stakeholders particularly industrialists and traders with HRD organisations to exploit maximum export potential of world's best stuff of fruits and vegetables grown in Pakistan. He added that in the international trade arena, the issues of marketing with established quality and standards had become more pronounced and complicated.
Professor Dr Muhammad Ashfaq, Dean Faculty of Agriculture said Pakistan had more than 20 agro ecological zones having potential to grow more than 500 crops but unfortunately only 35 crops were being grown in the country. He added that our farming community had never grown citrus as a primary crop resultantly due to mix intercropping practices citrus production was being decreased.
Professor Dr Anjum Sohail, Chairman Department of Entomology said the standards required in the trade included pre and post-harvest indicator pesticides residues, blemishes and warts severely impede the citrus export particularly to EU markets. Director Horticulture Punjab, M Asif Khan while referring the importance of diseases and insect pests reiterated that about 60 years ago there were no citrus diseases but now 30 economically important viruses and diseases had been recognised world-wide.
Professor Dr Sohail Ahmad said that most of virus-like diseases were common in nursery and orchards which were being transmitted through grafting or insects. He maintained that citrus tristeza closterovirus (CTV) greening and canker were blatant examples of insect transmitted diseases which were needed to be identify and controlled. Riaz Mehmood and other speakers also spoke on the occasion.
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