May 8, 2006	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 9, 1427

Horticultural crops have tremendous potential as these fit well with local production and help in improving the livelihood of farmers.

In view of low returns the farmers get for traditional crops, the introduction of high value horticultural crops seem essential in poverty alleviation.

Horticultural crops lead to broad-based economic development, slow rural-urban migration and increase empowerment. Culturing and adjustment of these crops is a highly technical job demanding focus on research and development in production, post-harvest technology, and human resource development.

Furthermore, an effective and sustainable marketing system is needed to explore and exploit the export potential of these crops along with the efforts to enhance production.

Worldwide research and development organizations are struggling for collective action to improve economic opportunities and food security for the poor through prioritized and effective efforts.

Pakistan’s trade deficit is a strain on our economy with a narrow base for exports. A considerable share of foreign exchange is spent on the import of seed, predominantly hybrid seeds of vegetable crops and ornamental flowers.

The imported seed from neighbouring countries costs not only precious foreign exchange but also increases the cost of production and brings associated problems of various viral and fungal diseases.

The development of horticulture as an industry seems crucial. The new technologies developed in the sector do not become popular with farmers because of the non-existence of a sustainable marketing system for local consumption, and export. There is a need to widen the scope of agricultural exports, especially, of high value horticultural crops. The agro-ecological diversity in Pakistan due to a range of soil and climatic variations offer a rich ground for growing horticultural crops.

Pakistan is one of the few countries in the world where we can grow more than 30 fruits, about 40 different types of vegetables, cut flowers and numerous ornamental and medicinal herbs.

Major vegetables grown include potato, onion, chillies, melons, cucumbers, tomato, turnip, okra and pea, whereas, citrus, dates, mango, guava, apple, banana, apricot, grapes, almonds, peach, plum and pomegranate are main fruit crops. The climate of our country is quite congenial for production of rose, gladiolus, carnation, tuberose, and marigold, which can fetch high prices in big cities.

Due to recent changes in the government policy, floriculture is attracting more talent and capital to develop this industry for gearing it to export market. The increasing demand of the industry for essential oils from mint, rose, eucalyptus, tuberose, marigold and jasmine is met through imports. Therefore, production of essential oils in the country can save foreign exchange, and at the same these oils have scope for export.

In Pakistan, there are about 3,200 plant species, which have medicinal uses in Unani, allopathic and homeopathic medicines. Many of these species have multipurpose use, in nutrition, ornamental and in local cottage industries. However, about 300 species are used in traditional medicines.

Many indigenous plant species, and drugs and cures from them have been adopted by developed countries and some multinational pharmaceutical companies are claiming property rights for them as there is no documentation system for these. It is the need of time to promote the cultivation of these indigenous valuable plant species and their documentation to establish property rights.

Furthermore, technologies should be developed for production and processing of these plants for extraction of useful ingredients. Research is being carried out in the Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, and Faisalabad with special emphasis on production and post harvest technologies, value-added products and marketing system for the export of horticultural crops.