PHDEC organized a webinar titled ‘Good Agricultural Practices of Tomato’ in Karachi. The webinar aimed to empower farmers with knowledge on tomato nursery propagation, transplantation of nursery plants, tomato plant population, nutrition, water management, tomato crop diseases, and their remedies.
In Pakistan, tomato production for 2022-23 is projected to reach 565 thousand tons from 46,000 hectares, with Sindh leading in tomato production, followed by Balochistan and Punjab.
Due to varying climatic conditions, tomatoes are sown at different times in Pakistan. For early crops, nurseries are sown in July-August, transplanted to the field in August-September, and harvesting begins in November.
Recognizing the importance of Good Agricultural Practices for tomatoes in ensuring fruit quality, safety, and timely delivery to consumers, as well as meeting trade requirements and creating value-added products, PHDEC selected this timeframe to educate tomato farmers and growers on the subject.
The expert from NARC, Islamabad, provided insights on seed selection, sowing methods, nutrition and water management, and tomato crop disease management.
Jafar Ali, Assistant Manager at PHDEC, extended a warm welcome to the participants and explained that PHDEC has initiated a series of webinars on value-addition in major horticulture products of Pakistan.
He highlighted PHDEC’s focus on product development within its mandate and presented an overview of the organization’s vision, mission, mandate, and objectives.
Khawar Nadeem, Manager Agri-Products at PHDEC, began the webinar with an introduction of himself and an overview of PHDEC’s mandate and scope. He extended a warm welcome to all participants, including growers, processors, exporters, and academic circles, and expressed gratitude for their attendance.
During the webinar, Dr. Nausherwan Nobel Nawab, Principal Scientific Officer from NARC, Islamabad, provided theoretical training to the growers on various aspects. He emphasized the significance of disease-free seeds for nursery propagation and shared a comprehensive production cycle, from sowing to harvesting, using photos from NARC.
Dr. Nawab highlighted the importance of research and development in production technology and IPM techniques, particularly in collaboration with the private sector. His recommendations covered optimal plant population per acre, plant-to-plant distance, and diverse IPM practices to control insect/pests and diseases in tomato cultivation.
During the webinar, Dr. Nausherwan Nobel Nawab elaborated on the three types of tunnels for tomato farming: low plastic tunnel, walk-in plastic tunnels, and high plastic tunnels.
In discussing tomato diseases and their remedial measures, Dr. Nawab highlighted Blossom End Root disease, which damages tomato fruits at an early stage due to calcium deficiency in tomato plants. He recommended spraying Calcium chloride at 2 to 3 grams per liter of water to overcome this issue. Additionally, he briefed participants on tomato insect/pests and how to manage them effectively.
The interactive webinar lasted for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, and participants were satisfied with the answers to their questions. They appreciated PHDEC’s initiative in organizing the webinar on the crucial topic of ‘Good Agricultural Practices of Tomato.’
Assistant Manager Agri-Products, Jafar Ali, expressed gratitude to all participants and assured them that PHDEC will continue to conduct such activities, both virtually and on-site, for the development of Pakistan’s horticulture industry.
