In Pakistan, the total area under fruit has fallen by 10.9%.

Pakistan enjoys favourable conditions for growing a wide variety of fruits, including citrus fruits, stone fruits, pome fruits, nuts as well as tropical fruits

 

Local media report that, according to statistics from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the total area under fruit cultivation fell from 0.8 million hectares in the 2012-13 financial year to 0.7 million hectares in the 2023 financial year. This represents a decline of 10.9% in 10 years.

 

According to the Ministry, the area under citrus fruit fell by 19.5%, the area under mangoes by 9.3%, the area under apples by 27%, the area under pomegranates by 43%, the area under guavas by 18%, the area under plums by 13%, the area under apricots by 49% and the area under almonds by 26%.

 

Various factors may explain this decline: the expansion of towns and cities, which is eating up farmland; reduced rainfall due to climate change in certain regions; reduced availability of irrigation water; and the fragmentation of land, which is resulting in smaller and smaller orchards over the generations, making it difficult for them to remain economically viable.

 

On the other hand, according to the Ministry, the area under bananas, grapes and melons is increasing.