Azeem Ahmed Khan

A senior scientist at the Barani Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Chakwal, has urged citrus farmers to shift away from traditional local varieties and adopt high-value international ones that offer greater export potential and better returns.

Talking to WealthPK, Aqeel Feroze said that BARI had successfully tested a range of European citrus varieties, including Valencia Late, Salustiana, Morro Blood, Tarocco, and Sanguinello, some of which are also suitable for cultivation in the warmer regions of the country.

“Farmers planning to establish new citrus orchards should avoid traditional varieties such as Musambi, Succari, Kinnow, and Feutrell’s Early,” he said.

The European varieties are not only preferred in global markets for their taste and low seed count, but also fetch premium prices in domestic markets, he added. Aqeel said BARI is currently working to expand the supply of planting material and promote high-value fruit crops across Pakistan. He emphasised that while Kinnow remains Pakistan’s leading citrus export, introducing new international varieties is essential to stay competitive in global markets.

Among the recommended varieties, he described Valencia Late as the top choice due to its late harvesting season, extending into mid-April, a time when fresh citrus is otherwise unavailable in local markets.

According to the scientist, this Spanish variety is highly juicy, large in size, and has fewer seeds, making it attractive for both domestic consumers and exporters.

“The fruit does not drop easily from the tree and remains juicy even weeks after harvest. It has a long shelf life, which makes it viable for long-distance shipping,” he said. The variety can yield commercial production after three years, with a single plant producing 400-450 fruits in its fourth year and around 600 fruits once matured after five years, he added.

It performs well in the Potohar region and is also suitable for central and southern Punjab, where it matures even earlier due to higher temperatures, he noted. Noted for its near seedlessness and juiciness, Salustiana, another Spanish variety, is a popular export to Europe, prized for its durability and shelf stability, Aqeel said. In contrast to Kinnow, which has limited shipping viability, Salustiana can withstand long transport durations of up to three months, the scientist observed.

He praised the Morro Blood orange, an Italian variety, for its deep red pigmentation and striking appearance. It thrives particularly well in Potohar’s cold winters, where lower temperatures enhance its signature colouration, he added.

“The variety enjoys strong demand in both domestic markets such as Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi, and is increasingly sought after by exporters,” he said. Meanwhile, Aqeel said the Sanguinello, also a Spanish variety, is characterised as exceptionally delicious and soft with a high juice percentage. “It is perhaps the tastiest orange available in Pakistan although plant availability remains limited at this stage.”

 The problem is that its mother plants are limited in quantity due to which limited budwood is available for propagation, the BARI senior scientist pointed out.  

Credit: INP-WealthPk