MULTAN, March 31: Several workshops will be held on ways to enhance Pakistan’s mango, citrus fruit and dairy production. This was stated by Dr Christian Roth, coordinator of the Agriculture Sector Linkages Programme, while talking to APP on the conclusion of a four-day workshop on ‘Mango production, development and extension in Pakistan and Australia’ here on Friday.

He said there was a lot of potential in Pakistan to increase production and export of value-added fruit products by augmenting their shelf life and meeting the importing countries’ criteria.

More field visits would be conducted and more workshops held to address the dieback (sudden death) disease which had affected mango orchards and the fruit’s output, he said.

This was a major setback for local people because farming, livestock and dairy produce formed the main means of livelihood for the rural majority.

He said the Australian government under the auspices of ASLP would cooperate with Pakistan to further develop the dairy sector to its optimum level so that per capita income could increase in rural areas.

Dr Roth, who is working at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, observed that there was a great potential in Pakistan’s livestock sector, which was also one of the major sources of income for local farmers.

He said Australia’s agricultural scientists would help Pakistan in diagnosis and treatment of botanical maladies of mango and citrus fruit, besides promoting exports.

The Australian government has offered Pakistan an assistance worth 6.6 million Australian dollars to carry out research on mango, citrus fruit and the dairy sector under a three-year programme.