Overview
Punjab province is contributing about 6.5% share in total dates production of Pakistan. Unfortunately, improved cultivars of Date Palm are not locally available, and their cost is beyond the reach of farming community. Therefore, this potential crop could not witness expansion for area in Punjab. Almost all plantations are inferior in quality and less productive. Most of them are found in small and scattered patches; however, there are a few planned orchards. Under this development project three multiplication blocks of these exotic varieties are being established at Horticultural Research Station, Bahawalpur, Date palm Research Sub-Station, Jhang and Horticultural Research Institute, Faisalabad.
Objectives
The development project “Diversification to High Value Cropping through Promotion of Horticultural Crops in Punjab” is aimed at plantation of high value date palm exotic germplasm.
Outcomes
- The date varieties (Ajwa, Medjool, Khalas, Amber and Barhee) are of high value and farmer will fetch much higher income than conventional varieties.
- Plantation of 1000 plants of five varieties of exotic date palm
- Increase in yield and quality of farmers produce
- Under this development project three multiplication blocks of these exotic varieties are being established at Horticultural Research Station, Bahawalpur, Date palm Research Sub-Station, Jhang and Horticultural Research Institute, Faisalabad.