Research & Development on Fruit Crops in South Punjab through Establishment of Fruit Research Institute at Bahawalpur

Objectives

To conduct research & development on different fruit crops such as Datepalm, Citrus, Olive, Guava, Ber and Pomegranate etc. in un-cultivated land of South Punjab

Implementation design

A: 2021-22

• Approval of project 
• Award of contract for civil work.
• Standardization of specifications and Procurement of machinery and equipment. 
• Survey of un-cultivated area.
• Establishment of lab and lath house facilities
• Development of Code Of Practices (COPs)
• Production of organic Date fruit.
• Documentation and approval of Date variety. 
• Clearance of posts under the project and Rationalization and transfer of posts.

B: 2022-23

• Completion of civil work by C&W Deptt. 
• Standardization of specifications. 
• Procurement of machinery and equipment.
• Establishment of lab and lath house facilities
• Production of organic Date fruit. 
• Documentation and approval of Date variety.
• Filling of newly created / rationalized posts. 
• Completion of plantation in demo plots. 
• Capacity building of farmers of demo plots.  

C: 2023-24

• Completion of research data. 
• Completion of Code Of Practices (COPs)
• Production of organic Date fruit.
• Capacity building of farmers of demo plots.  
• Conduction of experiments. 
• Delivery of olive plants to the farmers. 
• Start for production of 20000 nursery plants.

Sponsoring

• Government of the Punjab, Agriculture Department

Execution

• Chief Scientist, Agri. (Research), Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad

Civil work

• Construction of office building & laboratories: Horticultural Research Station, Bahawalpur was established during 2003-04 with only Horticulture section and minimal staff. This is the only research station in south Punjab. There is dire need to expand study area on different fruit crops in the field of Horticulture, Pathology, Entomology, Tissue culture and Post-harvest. So for this purpose an institute with its new building is required because the existing building has no capacity for laboratories or staff rooms. 
• Fruit packing room with warranda is required for cooling of fruit immediately after harvest to lower transpiration losses and delaying the fruit decay.
• Water course construction (7000 RFT) is required to save water which is drained in the field.
• Fencing of 1000 RFT research area is required to save the precious research material from animals.

Overall Targets