FAISALABAD, Sept 25: Scientists of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) have said that scores of citrus samples collected from different orchards were found infected with virus.

The observation was made at a two-day workshop organised by the UAF institute of horticultural sciences in collaboration with the science and technology ministry here on Tuesday.

UAF agriculture scientist Dr Mumtaz Khan said samples of various citrus varieties were analysed in the citrus sanitation laboratory of the institute. He said all samples were hit by virus.

“This is the prime cause of low production and poor quality of the citrus produced in the country.”

He said Pakistan was a major citrus producing country with 34 per cent share in the world.

“However it’s a matter of grave concern that Pakistan’s per hectare citrus production is only nine to 10 ton in comparison with America and Brazil’s 25 to 30 ton.”

Spelling out the performance of the institute, he said it had been striving for facilitating citrus farmers to get better production.

He said the UAF scientists had started distribution of disease-free citrus plants.

Renowned researchers, eminent scholars from various research organisations, students and a large number of farmers and nursery growers participated in the workshop and shared their views on citrus production.