Factors Affecting Citrus Productivity in District Dir Lower

Abstract

The present research study was conducted in six union councils of District Dir lower namely Talash, Rabat, Munjai, Balambat, Khungi, and Hayaseri; to study the existing situation of citrus production and to investigate the factors affecting citrus production in the study area. A total of 64 sample respondents from six union councils of District Dir lower having different characteristics were selected and interviewed. Association was checked between the main dependent variable i.e. citrus productivity with lack of technical assistance, lack of improved varieties, lack of irrigation facilities, diseases attack, lack of marketing facilities, high cost of transportation, poor extension services, and lack of government interest towards citrus growers in the study area. Hence the problem being faced by the citrus growers in different union councils are multidimensional.  Results show that 31.2 % of the citrus growers called diseases attack reasons for citrus low productivity followed by poor extension services 25 %, lack of irrigation facilities 1.6 %, lack of improved varieties 17.1 % who stated reasons for citrus low productivity. The most serious threat to citrus fruit is the decline in citrus orchard. Data regarding citrus orchard decline show that 29.7 % of the respondents stated lack of government interest as the main reason for citrus orchard decline followed by high transportation cost 23.4 %, poor marketing facilities 17.2 %, and natural disaster 20.3 %. Association between dependent and independent variables was recorded significant. Analysis of the data show that lack of technical assistance, lack of improved varieties, lack of irrigation facilities, diseases attack and natural disaster (flood) were  perceived to be the related problems faced by citrus growers for citrus  low productivity in the study area. It was concluded from the result findings that majority of the respondents were literate and agriculture was their main profession but there were no government interest programme for citrus growers to empower them in gaining of technical skills and basic professional training regarding citrus orchard management. It is recommended that professional trainings by extension staff are necessary for citrus growers regarding new citrus production technology.

Keywords: Factors, Citrus, Productivity, District Dir lower