Horticulture crops in Pakistan

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Horticulture sector has the prime importance in Pakistan Agriculture Industry. The horticulture sector is not only producing fruits and vegetables for local consumption but also earning a handsome amount of foreign exchange through export of fruits and vegetables produced in Pakistan.

Pakistan is blessed with vast agro-environment to produce a variety of temperate, sub-tropical and Mediterranean fruits and vegetables at suitable locations according to the specific climatic requirements of the different fruits and vegetable crops. At present 6692.90 (000 tons) fruits are being produced on an area of 814.200 (000 ha) with an average national yield 8.22 tons /ha. Similarly 3108.20 (000 tons) vegetables are also being produced on an area of 251.200 (000 ha) with an average national yield 12.37 tons /ha. The average national yield of fruits and vegetable crops is quite low when compared with developed/developing countries (Agricultural Statistics of Pakistan 2011-12.)

The research and development activities are being under taken with the aim to resolve problems and to boost the yield, in collaboration with the provincial research institutes/stations. To strengthen research and development activities at national level, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council has declared the following research institute as cooperative units for Horticultural Crops:

Fruit Crops

Fruit Crops Research Programme, HRI, NARC, Islamabad
Horticulture Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad
Sindh Horticulture Research Institute (SHRI),Mirpur Khas, Sindh
AZRI, Umerkot
NSTHRI, Thatta
Date Palm Research Station, Kot Digi, Khairpur
Horticulture Section, ARI, Tarnab, Peshawar
Horticulture Section, ARI, Mingora, Swat
Date Palm Research Station, ARI, D. I. Khan
NTHRI, Shinkiari
Directorate of Agricultural Research Fruit, ARI, Sariab, Quetta
Date Palm Research Station, Turbat
Fruit & Vegetable Specialist, Department of Agriculture, Muzaffarabad, AJK
Horticultural Crops Research Section, Department of Agriculture, Gilgit Baltistan
Horticulture Section, CSRP, MARC, Gilgit Baltistan
BARI, Chakwal
Vegetable Crops

Vegetable Crops Research Programme, HRI, NARC, Islamabad
Vegetable Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad
Vegetable Research Station, SHRI, Mirpur Khas, Sindh
Vegetable Section, ARI, Tarnab, Peshawar
Vegetable Section, ARI, Mingora, Swat
NTHRI, Shinkiari
Directorate of Vegetable Seed Production, ARI, Sariab, Quetta
Fruit & Vegetable Specialist, Department of Agriculture, Muzaffarabad, AJK
Horticultural Crops Research Section, Department of Agriculture, Gilgit Baltistan
Vegetable Section, CSRP, MARC, Gilgit Baltistan
Potato Research Institute, Sahiwal
HARS, Abbottabad
BARI, Chakwal
National Potato Programmme, HRI, NARC, Islamabad