TAXILA: Hundreds of citrus lovers can be seen thronging the Taxila-Khanpur Road as the famous seasonal delight of the area – the Khanpuri red blood oranges – are selling like hot cakes there these days.

The recent rainy spell added to the unique juice content and taste of the fruit which was earlier missing. The famous red blood oranges are now fully ripe and available in the kiosks established along the farms.

Every year between December and February, the Panj Katha area located between Taxila and Khanpur becomes the destination of the citrus lovers when orange orchards reach their peak.

Spread over 280 hectares, the citrus orchards of Khanpur and Punj Khatta bordering Taxila are famous around the world for the distinct taste of their produce, especially the red blood oranges besides other varieties, including hamlin, ruby red and shakry, oranges, mussammy, fruiters and grapefruit.

According to the crop reporting centre, the annual produce of these delicious varieties used to range from 2,200 to 2,400 tons but over the years it has reduced by around 70 to 80 per cent.

Even then, people can be seen sticking around these kiosks and getting the unique taste of the fruits by eating it on the roadside and taking away for families and friends.

At present, the red blood oranges are selling at Rs1,100 and Shikri at Rs1,300 per 100 oranges.

Khalid Mehmood, a resident of Wah Cantt, was enjoying eating oranges outside a kiosk on the Taxila-Khanpur Road along with his family. He said eating the fresh citrus fruits under the sun in January was a fun.

Another buyer, Mohammad Azim from Islamabad, was, however, not satisfied with the size and price of the fruit. He said this year the size of the fruit had shrunk and the rate gone beyond the reach of the common citizens.

Local farmer Raja Mohammad Javaid said unfavourable weather conditions and water shortage had considerably decreased the per-tree yield of the Khanpuri citrus fruits.

Mohammad Tahir, another farmer, said the effects of climate change and the ever-decreasing soil fertility had considerably reduced the yield of the citrus fruits in the Khanpur valley.

He said the farmers were suffering losses and consumers complaining of the rising prices.

Another farmer, Raja Shafqat, said from April to June when the citrus trees started fruition and needed water, there was a shortage of water from the Khanpur Dam. As a result, the per-tree yield remained low.

He also attributed the decline in the yield of the citrus fruits to rapid commercialisation of arable land and reduction in the underground table water. He, however, said increased rates had not dented the sale of the fruits.

Published in Dawn January 25th, 2017