Trial cultivation of pistachio begins in Punjab

ISLAMABAD, Mar 14 (APP): Cultivation of pistachio on a trial basis has started in the Potohar region of Punjab, as the area’s climate is considered suitable for growing this high-value nut crop.

“We have successfully grown pistachio plants, but the fruiting process is taking longer than expected,” Aqeel Feroz, Senior Scientist at the Barani Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Chakwal, told Wealth Pakistan.

He said BARI has imported six pistachio varieties from California, one of the world’s major producers of this widely consumed nut.

He explained that pistachio cultivation is still at the experimental stage because the plants take a relatively long time to start bearing fruit.

The varieties currently under experimental cultivation at BARI include Napolitano, Larnaka, Sirora, 3C, and Golden Hills.
“We have been able to harvest a few bunches of fruit, but we want to see the plants fully laden before recommending the crop for commercial cultivation so that it becomes economically viable for growers,” Aqeel said.

BARI is conducting research to identify pistachio varieties best suited to the specific agro-climatic conditions of northern Punjab.
“While pistachios are traditionally grown in cooler, arid regions like Balochistan, experimental cultivation is showing promise in the drier parts of Punjab,” he said.

According to him, a mature pistachio plant can yield around 15–20 kilograms of fruit, which could provide a good return to farmers.
Once commercial cultivation begins, pistachio farming could become an attractive option for growers seeking value-added agricultural opportunities.

Pistachio consumption in Pakistan is rising due to its popularity as a nutritious, premium dry fruit used in everyday snacks, traditional desserts such as kheer and barfi, and bakery items. Although pistachios are locally grown in parts of Balochistan, most of the demand is met through imports from Iran, Afghanistan, and the United States.

Pakistan imported approximately 6.86 million kilograms of pistachios worth $8.96 million in 2024, mainly from Iran ($8.87 million) and the United States.

“With the changing geopolitical situation, importing pistachios from regional countries such as Iran and Afghanistan is becoming both difficult and expensive,” Muhammad Zeeshan, a dry fruit importer at Lahore’s Akbari Mandi, told Wealth Pakistan.

He noted that promoting local pistachio production would benefit the national economy.
According to the horticulture experts, Balochistan and Upper Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa already present a success story in the local cultivation of pistachios in Pakistan.

“Approximately 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) of land in Balochistan is under pistachio cultivation in upland areas stretching from Kalat to Quetta and Loralai divisions,” Prof Dr Shahjahan Shabbir Rana, a horticulture expert at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), told Wealth Pakistan.

He said four pistachio varieties have been jointly developed by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and the Balochistan Agricultural Research and Development Center (BARDC). “Three new pistachio varieties have recently been registered,” Dr Rana said.

To further boost research and development, the UCB-1 hybrid cultivar has also been successfully imported from the United States and cultivated in Pakistan. He added that wild varieties, such as Pistacia Khinjuk, are also being cultivated on an experimental basis.

Currently, Balochistan’s pistachio production meets a small fraction of the country’s local demand.
“Nevertheless, it is promising in every respect, especially as imports from Iran and Afghanistan are becoming increasingly expensive due to the changing geopolitical dynamics,” Dr Rana said.