Horticultural Research Institute, Faisalabad

Horticultural Research Institute, Faisalabad was established in 1986-87. The major task entrusted was to find out solution of various problems facing by fruit growers for successful production of high yield and quality fruit crops. To meet this challenge this institute is carrying out research on various problems of field importance has developed production technology on various aspects which is being delivered to extension staff and growers. Under the supervision of Director Horticulture Faisalabad, Date Palm Research Station, Bahawalpur, Date Palm Research Sub Station, Jhang and Horticulture Research Sub Station, D.G Khan are being involved in research on various aspects of production technology of Date Palm, Pomegranate, Ber Citrus, etc. Date Palm Research Station, Bahawalpur is engaged in carrying out research work on various fruits. It is a matter of satisfaction that the pace of development of fruit crops has been very much encouraging than the past. In 1947 the fruits were being grown on an area of 43 thousand hectare with an annual production of 420 thousands tones. Due to advance research on improved production technology and introduction of different fruit varieties; fruits we are not only fulfilling our domestics requirement but also earning lot of foreign exchange. The area has been increased up-to 8.04 million hectare with annual production of 6.57 milliontones in the year 2015-16. The Punjab is producing 4.36 milliontones of different types of fruits on an area of 3.81 Million hectare, which is 46.65% of total area and 63.15% of total production. Currently, we are exporting 674 thousand tones of different fruits earning foreign exchange of 23975.1 Million Rupees (Agricultural Statistic of Pakistan, 2015-16).

Since the inception of independent research on Horticulture a number of major fruit varieties have been acclimatized and introduced to the fruit growers while work for the development of new improved cultivars is in progress. A comprehensive and adoptable production technology has been developed and is being imparted to the fruit growers for proper management of orchards. The yield and quality of fruits depends on true to type and trustworthy fruit nursery plants. Thousands of good quality nursery plants of major fruits are being produced and supplied to the growers.

Mission 

Horticultural Research Institute, Faisalabad was established in 1986-87. The major task entrusted was to find out solution of various problems facing by fruit growers for successful production of high yield and quality fruit crops. To meet this challenge this institute is carrying out research on various problems of field importance has developed production technology on various aspects which is being delivered to extension staff and growers. Under the supervision of Director Horticulture Faisalabad, Date Palm Research Station, Bahawalpur, Date Palm Research Sub Station, Jhang and Horticulture Research Sub Station, D.G Khan are being involved in research on various aspects of production technology of Date Palm, Pomegranate, Ber Citrus, etc. Date Palm Research Station, Bahawalpur is engaged in carrying out research work on various fruits. It is a matter of satisfaction that the pace of development of fruit crops has been very much encouraging than the past.

Objectives

• Selection and acclimatization of exotic cultivars of different fruits
• Root stocks standardization for different fruit
• Standardization of technology for fruit production
• Standardization of various cultural practices i.e., nutritional, pruning, intercultural and irrigation aspects
• To conduct research trials on fruit crops in different ecological zones
• Supply of pedigreed fruit plants of recommended cultivars to the farmers at cheaper rates
• To coordinate with other Research organizations
• Provision of advisory services to the farmers through electronic and print media
• Training of in service extension workers and internees

Research Activities

Following are the research activities of the institute:

On-Going

• Conduction of trial on various problems/issues on different fruit crops
• Research and development programs will be focused on improving productivity of fruit crops that will increase farmer’s profitability
• Dissemination of technology package to develop a culture for export oriented quality production
• Provision of pedigree nursery plants to the progressive growers

New Vista

• Introduction of high yielding and disease resistant varieties.
• Evolution of salt tolerance rootstocks and screening of suitable fruit crops in saline soils.
• Research activities towards the production of less seeded/seedless varieties of the fruits.
• Earmarking of zones for specific fruit crops.
• New potential varieties of guava, fig, falsa, grapes, jaman, litchi and pomegranate will be selected/acclimatized, characterized and catalogued.
• Standardization of asexual propagation techniques for production of pedigree plants via soft wood cuttings and grafting.

Achievements

Following are the achievements of the institute:

• More than 90 varieties of fruits have been standardized and recommended for plantation
• Compatible rootstocks of different fruits have been standardized
• Propagational techniques of different fruits have been standardized
• Standardized compatible rootstocks for different fruits
• Standardized nutritional, Irrigational and other cultural practices/techniques
• Hand date pollinator has been developed
• Techniques of pruning and intercropping have been standardized
• 12 strain of guava (Red Surahi, Guava selection 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11) have been selected from different areas of Punjab for further evaluation
• 2 strain of Jaman (JS 1 and 2) have been selected for further evaluation.
• 8 strain of pomegranate (PS 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8) have been collected with elite quality characteristics and planted in progeny garden for its further characterization
• A-sexual technologies for production of true to type nursery plants of Guava and Jamun have been standardized
• More than 12000 nursery plants of different fruits have been provided to the farmers
• For control of the fruit cracking of pomegranate, a technology has been standardized by foliar application of the 0.3% boric acid+ 1% KNO₃ during first week of June and first week of July along with better orchard management
• 135 plants of nine exotic date palm varieties (Ajwa, Anbarah, Khudri, NabutSaif, Sagai, Khalas, Barhee, Shishi, Sultana) have been imported during 2015-16 and planted at Jhang and Bahawalpur for acclimatization study
• 177 plants of 9 varieties (Mejdool, Lulu, Nemeishi, Raziz, Zamli, Ajwa, Khalas, Barhee, Shishi) have been imported
• The technology has been standardized for drying of dates at 52±10°C for 60 hours
• Fruits of fourteen varieties of exotic date were collected and their seeds were sown for the development of chance seedlings strains of date

Iniatives

• Research and development programs has been focused on finding solutions in terms of increasing productivity of fruit crops and increase farmer’s profitability.
• Fifteen varieties of different fruit like date varieties, ber, pomegranate has been got registered from FSC & RD
• All the nurseries of the Institute have been got registered from FSC & RD
• New varieties of the date palm varieties Ajwa, Anbarah, Khudri , Nabut ul Saif, Sagai, Khalas, Barhee, Shishi, Sultana, Medjool, Lulu, Nemeishi, Raziz and Zamli of date palm have been got registered
• New germplasm of guava, jamun, fig, citrus, pomegranate etc. have been selected/acclimatized and will be characterized and catalogued.
• Development of progeny blocks of various fruit crops for germplasm maintenance and their evaluation
• Establishment of  advance production technologies to combat field issues
• Establishment of  advance nursery techniques for Clonal multiplication of fruit crops (i.e. guava and jamun)
• Standardized technology for control of Pomegranate fruit cracking (Spray of Boric acid (0.3% ) + KNO3 (1% ) in 1^st week of May & mid June)
• Introduced High Density Plantation System (HDPS) in guava
• Standardized technology for dehydration of  Dates for processing as table Dates and Chhohara through Hot Air Dryer

Facilities

NURSERY RATE LIST OF HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AARI, FAISALABAD 2025-26

Services

Following are the services offered by the institute:

• Provided true to type plants of different fruits to limited number progressive growers
• Provided the consultancy to the different farmers on different issues in farms and office
• Arranged exhibitions to create interest regarding cultivation of fruit crops among the farmers
• Arranged seminars on fruits to discuss the status of fruits and to create interest regarding cultivation of fruit crops among the farmers
• Delivered the radio and TV talks on different topics to create awareness among the farmers
• Distributed the brushers on different fruit crops, i.e., Guava, Date palm, falsa, jamun, to the farmers free of cost

Allied Stations

Horticultural Research Station Bahawalpur

Horticultural Research Station Bahawalpur, previously Sub-Station under the administration control of Horticulturist, Dera Ghazi Khan was established in 1982-83 under a development scheme “Intensification of Research on Horticultural Crops”. A square of land was acquired from Deputy Director, Agriculture Extension Bahawalpur. Different strains of fruit plants were collected and planted in the area to search out the best-suited ones for future fruit varieties. A fruit plant nursery was also established on limited scale in limited resources. An ADP scheme “Additional Facilities for Date Palm Research at Bahawalpur” was started during 2002-2003. Office & residential buildings were constructed and 25 acres were acquired from sister organizations for date palm germplasm collection and scientific research. In July, 2003, the sub-station was upgraded to station where scientific research is being conducted on different aspects of fruit plants as well as advisory services are also being rendered to the farmers of the southern Punjab region.. A PARB funded project “Micropropagation of date palm through tissue culture” was started during 2010. Explant material (suckers) of different date varieties are being provided to collaborating organization (NARC) for micropropagation of date palm

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Date Palm Research Sub-Station, Jhang

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Horticultural Research Sub-Station, D G Khan

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