Blog

Today (September 25, 2024) PHDEC conducted a webinar on Olive Production, Prospects and challenges in Pakistan.The webinar aimed at discussing Olive Production, Prospects and challenges in Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan produces about 1,500 tons of olive oil and 830 tons of table olives per year, all of which are consumed domestically. Pakistan has set a target of producing 16,000 tons of olive oil by 2027. The main areas in Pakistan fit for olive cultivation are Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). Pakistan has 10 million acres of land suitable for olive cultivation, which is almost twice as much as Spain, the world’s largest olive oil producer. PHDEC chose this time frame to educate olive farmers/growers and key farm workers on the subject.The Project Director of the Center of Excellence for Olive Research (CEFORT) provided valuable insights to the olive farmers in attendance.The Webinar attracted a wide range of participants from the agricultural sector, including farmers, researchers, processors and academia, who engaged in fruitful discussions on the future prospects of Olive Production and its potential to revolutionize olive production in Pakistan.

September 10, 2024, Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) is going to organize a webinar titled “Swat-1 Onion: Unlocking Production Potential and Market Prospects,”The session will focus on Swat-1 Onion, a popular red-skin variety in Pakistan known for its high yield potential of 35-40 tons/ha and good keeping quality of 3-4 months at ambient temperature in ventilated storage. With medium bulb size (8-12 bulbs/kg) and high-top bulb shape, this variety shows great promise for enhancing onion production and market competitiveness.Pakistan ranks 7th globally in onion production and 8th in exports, with an average yield of 14.3 tons/ha, which is below the world average of 19 tons/ha. By addressing this 15-ton yield gap with improved technologies like Swat-1, we can potentially add 2.5 million tons to the national production, significantly boosting both domestic supply and export prospects.Dr. Noor Habib, Principal Research Officer, ARI Mingora, Swat will be presenter for the webinar. This session will explore strategies to optimize production and capitalize on future market opportunities, benefiting stakeholders across the Swat-1 supply chain.

(4th September 2024), PHDEC conducted the webinar on “Preparation of Mango Orchards for Next Crop by Effective Management Techniques”.The aim was to discuss and enlighten the growers/farmers on good farming practices for viable crop production to produce good quality mangoes and to get high yields.Dr. Javed Iqbal, Senior Scientist, Mango Research Station, Shujabad provided a detailed overview of mango orchard management and delivered a presentation on soil, irrigation & nutrition management, pruning, use of pesticides/chemicals, vegetative and root growth patterns and its management for better plant health. The session was concluded with a Q&A segment from the audience.A large number of growers/farmers, R&D, entrepreneurs, and academia participated in the webinar and valued the PHDEC’s initiative.

PHDEC organized a webinar titled ‘Value-Added Products of Garlic,’ aimed at engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders to explore potential interventions for the development of value-added garlic products. Experts from Al-moiz industries Limited and Pamico Agrofoods provided in-depth insights into the garlic value chain, the scope of value addition, and the quality attributes essential for processing garlic into high-value products. The webinar attracted significant participation from processors, progressive growers, R&D professionals, private companies, and academia, who all commended this initiative.

Webinar on “Pecan Nuts: Production Technology and Future Prospects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” focused on the rich potential of pecan nuts (Carya illinoinensis). It is a non-traditional crop for the region, known for its high fat content, caloric value, and versatile use in various culinary applications.The webinar featured experts who discussed the cultivation of pecan varieties suitable for both subtropical and temperate areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, identified by ARI, Tarnab. Participants, including farmers, researchers, and industry stakeholders were provided with detailed insights on the production technology, best practices, and future prospects of Pecan Nut in KPK region. The session highlighted the economic potential and market opportunities for pecan cultivation, contributing to the diversification of horticulture crops in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The webinar was well-received, with active engagement and positive feedback from the attendees.

Today, on July 4th, 2024, PHDEC conducted an insightful webinar on “Good Agricultural Practices of Citrus for High Yield and Good Quality.”The primary aim was to engage stakeholders from Pakistan on critical issue of Citrus Orchard Management, focusing on achieving top-notch quality and yield.We were honored to have Mr. Malik Abdul Rehman from the Citrus Research Institute, Sargodha, who provided an in-depth overview of citrus orchard management. He covered essential topics such as fruit setting, development, insect/pest & disease management, and nutrition management.Our participants, ranging from growers, processors, exporters, to R&D and academia, had their questions thoroughly addressed and left the webinar well-informed and satisfied.Thank you to everyone who joined and appreciated PHDEC’s initiative in addressing this vital topic. Together, we are paving the way for a brighter future in citrus farming!