Rain Spell Improves Kinnow Quality

SARGODHA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jan, 2017 ) : The quality of kinnow, its colour and weight has improved after recent rain spell, said Director Citrus Research Institute, Sargodha (CRIS), Muhammad Nawaz Khan.

Talking to APP here on Wednesday, he said this year citrus export was started late which would continue by the end of April, adding quality of fruit was being improved due to weather conditions and modern techniques.

The growers will receive high rates due to improvement in its quality, he said. Pakistan has been placed in 13th rank across the world in citrus production, he said and added that Sargodha district produce 95 percent kinnow which was 80 percent of the overall production.

He said that demand of Pakistani citrus was increasing across the world and export to Malaysia and Indonesia was improving this year.

He added that Russian markets were larger importers of citrus and export to Iran will also continue this year.

To improve the kinnow quality according to International standards, latest varieties of seedless citrus fruits were being cultivated, the expert said and added that saplings of "ARI 2016" seed, have been cultivated over 30,000 acre areas of the Sargodha, Toba Tek Singh, Layyah and Vehari districts.

He informed that seedless kinnow demand was also high as it has normally 20 to 28 seeds while 95 percent variety of seedless Kinnow contains only one seed with more juice and long shelf life. The seedless kinnow can be exported to Russia, England, USA, Germany and other European countries where buyer of seedless citrus pay more rates.