Sargodha and Griffith (Australia): Synergies for Orange Production

The Riverina Valley in New South Wales is often hailed as the “food bowl of Australia.” This region is renowned for producing key commodities such as wheat, canola, and a variety of fruits, including oranges, cherries, and strawberries. The oranges from Riverina are particularly noted for their exceptional qualities: high juice content, impressive size, and delightful sweetness, in addition to being seedless.

As Australia’s largest citrus-growing area, Riverina boasts approximately 8,510 hectares dedicated to citrus cultivation, which accounts for 30% of the country’s total citrus production. Key towns in this region include Griffith, Leeton, and Hillston. The extensive processing units, silos, logistics, and storage facilities in these towns play a critical role in ensuring Australia’s food security. They are well connected by rail and road, with food silos conveniently located near railway lines, ensuring the efficient movement of goods.

Pakistan can draw valuable lessons from Riverina, especially in light of its high levels of grain and fruit wastage. The declining productivity of citrus in Pakistan underscores the necessity of emulating successful agricultural models, such as those seen in Griffith. This Australian town is known for its year-round orange production, featuring summer varieties like Valencia and winter varieties like Navel.

The Valencia orange, originally bred in Southern California and named after the Spanish city, is celebrated for its sweetness and juiciness. Its thin skin makes it ideal for juicing, and it can remain on the tree for up to six months, enhancing its sweetness and extending the harvesting season into summer. Conversely, Navel oranges, available from June to October (the Australian winter months), are sweet, juicy, seedless, and easy to peel, making them a popular choice for snacks and lunchbox treats.

In addition to Riverina, the Murray Valley, located along the Murray River in northwest Victoria, and the Mildura and Swan Hill Riverland in South Australia are also significant orange-producing areas. Together, these regions encompass a total orange production area of 16,131 hectares, representing 90% of Australia’s national orange cultivation. However, Riverina remains the largest producer. The total production of oranges in Australia was estimated at 530,000 metric tons in 2023, according to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). Out of this, 200,000 metric tons were exported, positioning Australia as the seventh-largest exporter of oranges globally in 2023.

Australia exports fresh oranges to over 35 nations, with the majority of its largest export destinations located in Asia. The traditional markets for Australian oranges have included Japan, China, and Hong Kong, with South Korea emerging as a significant destination in the 2022–23 period. These four countries account for about 60% of overall exports, serving as high-end markets with stringent regulations in the fruits and vegetables sector. Pakistan has been making strides to enter these lucrative markets, achieving limited access for its mangoes and oranges in recent years. These countries maintain rigorous Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards, allowing market entry only after signing the required protocols, following thorough surveys conducted by agricultural experts.

Challenges Facing Pakistani Orange Production

Over time, orange production in Pakistan has been declining, significantly impacting exports. One major contributor to this decline is the decrease in Kinnow production, resulting from the deteriorating health of local plants. Key issues include a shorter shelf life for Kinnow, susceptibility to diseases, low-quality yields, seed presence in the fruit, and dull shell color, compounded by bumper citrus crops in competing regional countries. All these challenges stem from the plants and varieties currently used in Pakistan.

Possibilities for Collaboration

Mr. Aslam Kahloon, a Pakistani fruit farmer from Sangla Hill, has been involved in fruit farming in Griffith for the past three decades. His farm exports oranges to Japan and South Korea, along with grapes to Japan, Hong Kong, China, and other markets. He is also a leading cherry grower in the area, operating one of the finest cherry farms. Individuals like Mr. Kahloon can play a crucial role in revitalizing citrus farming in Pakistan through knowledge and expertise exchange.

There is an urgent need to replace existing Kinnow plants with newer varieties. Collaboration between Sargodha and Griffith can significantly revitalize Pakistan’s entire orange (mandarin) sector. This can be achieved by fostering collaboration among farmers from both regions through the exchange of knowledge and expertise. The agriculture departments of both countries, alongside the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), can facilitate connections between growers and processors, paving the way for mutual growth and success in the citrus industry