Development Projects

Research & Development on fruit crops in South Punjab

S.#	Detail	Original	1st Amendment	2nd Revision
1	Total Cost of the project	Rs. 160.0 Million	Rs. 162.052 Million
2	Gestation Period	2021-22 to 2023-24	2021-22 to 2023-24
3	Date of approval	02.08.2021	20.01.2021
4	Date of start of the  project	1stJuly 2021	1stJuly 2021

Month	Targets for the year 2023-24	Achievement during the month
June, 2023	Completion of plantation of fruit plants at 5-6 identified farmer’s field for R&D purpose. Capacity building of farmers of demo plots with respect to different phonological stages of plant growth.	Plantation has been completed on six sites. Mr. Tahir Bhuta, Mauza Kheer Sar, Marot Cholistan. Mr. Ahsan Afridi, Mauza Kheer Sar, Marot Cholistan. Mr. Najeeb Ahmad, Mauza Kheer Sar, Marot Cholistan. Mr. Mudassan Hussain, Chak 13 BC, Cholistan. Mr. Tahir Khan, Chak Salari, Koh-e-Suleman, Taunsa.Dr. M. Rashid Qureshi, near airport, DGKhan.
	Completion of lab and green house facilities for mass multiplication of nursery propagates for their delivery to the farmers.	Green house facilities have been completed in the experimental orchard.
	Development of COPs for fruit crops i.e., Datepalm, Pomegranate, Mango, Guava, Lemon, Olive and Ber as a ready reference for the farmers to combat with different issues of fruit production and its high end marketing.	Development of COPs has been complete according to different phonological stages have been completed so far which are at proof correction stage.
	Documentation and approval of Date varieties i.e., Ajwa, Amber, Barhee, Khalas Sagai and Medjoul from competent forum of the Government.	Varieties in the target, have been approved in 56th meeting of Punjab Seed Council held on 24.03.2023.
	Filling of newly created / rationalized posts through initial recruitment or transfer of staff.	Recruitment of staff has been completed and they joined their duties w.e.f 01.012023. Case for transfer of posts has been submitted to concerned quarters.
	Production of organic Date fruit of varieties i.e., Ajwa, Amber, Barhee, Khalas, Medjoul and Sugai with their quality estimation.	Work is in progress.
	Completion of civil work by the C&W Department.	72% work has been completed by C&W Department.
August, 2023	Completion of plantation of fruit plants at 5-6 identified farmer’s field for R&D purpose. Capacity building of farmers of demo plots with respect to different phonological stages of plant growth.	Plantation has been completed on six sites. Mr. Tahir Bhuta, Mauza Kheer Sar, Marot Cholistan.Mr. Ahsan Afridi, Mauza Kheer Sar, Marot Cholistan.Mr. Najeeb Ahmad, Mauza Kheer Sar, Marot Cholistan.Mr. Mudassan Hussain, Chak 13 BC, Cholistan.Mr. Tahir Khan, Chak Salari, Koh-e-Suleman, Taunsa.Dr. M. Rashid Qureshi, near airport, DGKhan.
	Completion of lab and green house facilities for mass multiplication of nursery propagates for their delivery to the farmers.	Green house facilities have been completed in the experimental orchard.
	Development of COPs for fruit crops i.e., Datepalm, Pomegranate, Mango, Guava, Lemon, Olive and Ber as a ready reference for the farmers to combat with different issues of fruit production and its high end marketing.	Development of COPs has been complete according to different phonological stages have been completed so far which are at proof correction stage.
	Documentation and approval of Date varieties i.e., Ajwa, Amber, Barhee, Khalas Sagai and Medjoul from competent forum of the Government.	Varieties in the target, have been approved in 56th meeting of Punjab Seed Council held on 24.03.2023.
	Filling of newly created / rationalized posts through initial recruitment or transfer of staff.	Recruitment of staff has been completed and they joined their duties w.e.f 01.012023. Case for transfer of posts has been submitted to concerned quarters.
	Production of organic Date fruit of varieties i.e., Ajwa, Amber, Barhee, Khalas, Medjoul and Sugai with their quality estimation.	Work is in progress.
	Completion of civil work by the C&W Department.	74% work has been completed by C&W Department.

Proposed Outcomes

1. Fruit cultivation will result in better revenue generation by involving men and women in farm activities, value addition and development of processing industry.
2. Infrastructure will be established for research on various fruits. 
3. True to type nursery plants will be available to farmers at cheaper rates.
4. Genetically diversified plant material will be available for advanced research.
5. Income of farmers will be generated by involving them in production, harvesting, packing, storage and marketing innovations.

Capacity building of fruit growers and their staff for elite fruit varietal production.

Research & Development on fruit crops in South Punjab through establishment of Fruit Research Institute at Bahawalpur

Total cost of the Project: Rs. 170.00 Million
Gestation Period: 2021-22 to 2023-24 (36 Months)
South Punjab has a vast diversified area according to agro-climatic conditions which is highly compatible for the cultivation of different fruit crops such as Date

South Punjab has a vast diversified area according to agro-climatic conditions which is highly compatible for the cultivation of different fruit crops such as Date palm, Citrus, Olive, Guava, Peach, Ber and Pomegranate. These fruit crops have the potential to fetch handsome income to the farmers from the neglected and barren uncultivated lands by converting it into profitable entrepreneur. To strengthen the research facilities and capacity for the said valuable fruit crops through proposed project, research staff is engaged to conduct research on different issues of fruit crops on a small scale and to deliver a standardized technology to the fruit growers of the area and to develop their interest towards diversified fruit farming. Lab facilities are being upgraded for the conduction of research on various aspects of fruit germplasm and fruit production through research in horticulture, pathology, entomology and post-harvest and their outcome for their delivery to the farmers of the area.

Departmental Strategy

Standardization of production technology of different fruit plants keeping in view  burning issues to seek solution through research experiments.

2. To assess adaptability and performance evaluation of local and exotic germplasm.

3. Strengthening of germplasm of Date palm, Pomegranate, & Ber for best suited strains under agro climatic conditions of Southern Punjab.

4. Provision of true to type / certified nursery saplings of Date palm, Pomegranate & Ber to farmers.

5. Capacity building of farmers with respect to quality fruit production, post-harvest value addition and its high end marketing in national as well as international supply chain system.

Name of Project Director (Cell No. / Email)

Muhammad Ikhlaq,

Principal Scientist (Horticulture)

Horticultural Research Station, Bahawalpur

Cell # 0333-6446033

Phone # 062-9255432

e-mail:  hrsbwp@yahoo.com