Hundreds throng to Kot Momin for the Orange Show

KOT MOMIN, LAHORE: The sweet smell of citrus pierced through the damp air as hundreds gathered in Kot Momin to celebrate the National Citrus Festival on a rainy Sunday morning.
Organized by the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab — in cooperation with the Agri-Tourism Development Corporation of Pakistan — the initiative hopes to promote domestic consumption of the fruit, attract investors, and share expertise to add more value to the export of the citrus.
Hundreds of people from all age groups participated in the festival which was held in an area located 200 km outside of Lahore. The enthusiasm on part of attendees was unmistakable with several picking oranges and taking part in the activities at various stalls.
Nafisa Malik said she traveled 200 km just to participate in the event. “I am here just so I can physically experience picking oranges from the garden. But I didn’t realize that the best feeling is not just to pick the Kinnows, but that half the fun was just sitting under the rain with my family eating them. That is a unique experience,” she said.
Oranges are an important member of the citrus family and is valued for it’s quality of having nearly 47.5 percent of juice — the highest for all citrus fruits — while it’s sugar content is 12 percent. Additionally, 100 ml of Kinnow contains 20-25 mg of Vitamin C.
“Promoting tourism is a first priority on the government’s agenda and agri-tourism is an effort in that direction. This festival not only attracts masses, it educates them on the place they are visiting and the importance of the produce in national and international markets,” Yasir Humayun Sarfraz Raja, Punjab Minister for Tourism, told Arab News.
However, local farmers are of the view that since oranges are a major export product, foreigners should be invited to such events to promote the fruit even more.
“Pakistan produces the best oranges in the world. Our produce is recognized in the international market due to its aroma and taste. We export Kinnow to Russia, Indonesia, Middle East, and other parts of the world. The participation of foreigners in such events will enhance the export volume of the fruit,” Ahmad Hasan Gondal, a local orange farmer, told Arab News. 
In 2004, Pakistan exported approximately 0.15 million tons of orange while in 2018 the country exported a record 370,000 tons earning a revenue of around $22 million.
The Agriculture Department of Punjab expects 400,000 tons of oranges to be exported this year. With the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) providing an easy and accessible route to the neighboring country, Pakistani exporters are vying for a place in the Chinese market, too.
For this, the agriculture department of Punjab is making an effort to introduce better seeds in the market.
Meanwhile, the Citrus Research Institute in Sargodha (CRIS) has developed seedless oranges which have already been introduced in the market. This kind of the fruit will further enhance the export volume of Pakistani oranges,” Muddasar Abbas, PRO agriculture department, told Arab News.
The government is trying to facilitate farmers and exporters by holding exhibitions and seminars where foreign delegates are being invited so as to introduce them to the international markets.