Kiwifruit Production Training Workshop in China Explores Assistance to Pakistan
International Training Workshop on Kiwifruit Production
BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Sep, 2026) A recent international training workshop on "Kiwifruit Production" concluded in Chengdu, with agricultural experts from Pakistan, Egypt, Nepal, and Palestine participating.
The 15-day program, held in Chengdu and Deyang in Sichuan Province and Guilin in Guangxi, covered various aspects of kiwifruit cultivation, including breeding, cultivation techniques, orchard management, post-harvest handling, and marketing. It was jointly organized by the Sichuan Provincial Academy of Natural Resource Sciences and the Guangxi Institute of Botany.
Key Features:
- Lectures and Field Visits: Expert speakers from China and abroad, such as the New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research and the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, shared their knowledge.
- Practical Training and Academic Exchanges: Participants engaged in hands-on training and academic discussions.
- Topics Covered: The program touched on kiwifruit breeding, cultivation, orchard management, post-harvest practices, and marketing strategies.
Pakistani Participant's Insights:
Dr. Mushtaq Hussain Soomro, a consultant at the Women in Agriculture Development Organization in Pakistan, highlighted the potential of kiwifruit production in the country's Hazara Division and other upland regions. Trials conducted by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and the National Tea and High Value Crops Research Institute (NTHRI) since 2014 have shown promising results with about 90% plant survival.
However, Dr. Soomro noted that expanding kiwifruit production in Pakistan is challenging due to phytosanitary requirements for importing live germplasm. He mentioned that Chinese-led support could be practical, focusing on:
- Technological Transfer: Trellis systems, pruning techniques, and pollination know-how.
- In-Country Support: Tissue-culture support for Hayward rootstocks.
- Laboratory Capacity: Psa pathogen detection and SPS compliance.
- Infrastructure Development: Cold-chain and packhouse infrastructure.
- Training: Through the CPEC Joint Working Group on Agriculture.
The workshop marked its third edition, with Pakistani experts also participating in the 2025 program.