Revival of Citrus Sector in Punjab (2024-25 to 2027-28)

Objectives

• Combating the citrus decline and increasing productivity of citrus orchards using advanced management practices to improve yield and quality
• Advancements in disease diagnosis by establishing a molecular diagnostic lab for estimating the root causes of citrus decline and development of IPM strategies to address the crop challenges
• Developing the Pakistan’s first container-grown nursery system to produce high-quality, disease-free plants, ultimately reducing fruit-bearing time
• Developing the technical collaborations and capacity building programs for citrus stakeholders to adopt innovative practices and technologies

Implementation Design 

Sponsoring

• Government of Punjab Agriculture Department through ADP

Execution

• Chief Scientist, Agri. (Research) AARI, Faisalabad
• Chief Agriculture Officer/DG Agriculture Extension Punjab
• Director General Pest Warning & Quality control of Pesticides Punjab
• Director General Agri. Information Punjab

Operation & maintenance

• Chief Scientist, Agri. (Research) AARI, Faisalabad

Civil Work

• Construction of Screen Houses
• Land Acquisition at Toba Tek Singh

Type and number of beneficiaries

• Scientist of Citrus Research Institute Sargodha
• Citrus  Growers

Expected impact after completion of Project

• Citrus Revival in Sargodha and T.T. Singh through rejuvenation, propagation and advanced orchard management practices
• Research & Development through Cutting Edge Production Technologies & Molecular Methods for Diseases Diagnosis
• Introduction of 1^st Ever Container grown nursery & state of the Art Screnhouses
• Varietal Development and Acquisition of new exotic Gene-pool selection
• Integrated pest & disease management (IPDM) support