By Faiza Tehseen ISLAMABAD, Feb 08(INP-WealthPK): Kiwi is a worldwide cherished fleshy fruit with significant economic and nutritional value. Kiwi or Chinese goose berry is rich in Vitamin C, dietary fibre and iron. It’s rich taste and economic value have attracted many countries to grow it and Pakistan is one of them where a wonderful success has been achieved in its growth after a series of experiments at different locations. Pakistan imports kiwi from different countries i.e., China, New Zealand, Iran etc by spending a considerable amount of foreign exchange which will be saved after boost in local yield. As kiwi is oriental-originated, Pakistan considered it to be experimented to grow it in its fertile lands. Kiwi  bears fruit in four to five years and yielding age is for seven to eight years maximum. Harvest varies in different climatic regions. Two pickings can be done in one-time crop. An average yield per plant is 50 to 100kg. A healthy fruit weighs about 70 grams. Shelf life of kiwi is six months maximum at cool and dry places bearing temperature -0.6 degrees to 0 degrees centigrade, while it can be refrigerated for the maximum of eight weeks. Kiwi is not much vulnerable to pests, but it needs proper care for a desired yield. To start the plantation of kiwi, in addition to hayward variety, seven more verities were imported from China by Pakistan. Many trials were conducted, and for the past three years, kiwi has grown successfully by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in the northern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The National Tea and High Value Crops Research Institute (NTHRI) of the PARC has successfully grown kiwi in Mansehra district of KP. The results proved to be highly encouraging and 90% survival rate was recorded as compared to the other regions in Pakistan. The soil and environment of Hazara Division is found very favourable for kiwi plantation. On experimental base, kiwi was planted in the areas of Baffa and Shinkiari areas and it proved a success more than expectations. It is forecasted that in near future Pakistan will become successful to cut down its imports concerning kiwi which will save a considerable foreign exchange. Encouraged by the first successful experiment in KP’s first location, the PARC decided to experiment it in other union councils of Mansehra. On initial basis, 540 selected plants were provided to farmers and the fields measuring about five hectares were selected. To encourage the farmers of Potohar belt for the commercial plantation of Kiwi orchards, first time in Islamabad, about 100 seedlings were planted by the joint coordinated project of Government of Pakistan owned institutions, ZTBL and PMAS (Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University) at ZTBL farm located at Orchard Scheme, Islamabad. The project was inaugurated by the heads of both institutes on September 22, 2021. The project is funded by Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB) and owned by the Government of Pakistan. The said introductory project is named as ‘Evaluation & Introduction’ of some exotic kiwi cultivars. The ZTBL farm will be used for multiple purposes i.e., incubation, demonstration, training and value addition centre to benefit both farmers and agriculture students. The government has planned to extend the kiwi cultivation area in different places of Pakistan i.e., Attock, Chakwal, foothills of Margalla etc. Kiwi plantation is also a part of the prime minister’s plan “Plant for Pakistan.” The average yield of Kiwi plants grown in other countries of the world is 3,000 to 4,000kg per acre, but the yield earned in Pakistan was more than that. So, it is estimated that kiwi plants will be a success when they are provided to farmers for commercial cultivation. Kiwi fruit exports from all countries totalled $3.17 billion in 2020. The worldwide export of kiwi fruit rose by 5.3 percent from 2019 to 2020. In 2021, the top-ten Kiwi fruit producing countries contributed 95 percent of global kiwi production, while five countries among the top-ten contributed 85 percent share. The world’s kiwi fruit industry is showing a robust growth. In Asia-Pacific region, the major producers of kiwi fruit are New Zealand and China. In China, kiwi is cultivated in mountainous areas, in the provinces of Shaanxi and Sichuan. Since kiwi is native to China, the country is at first hand to produce multiple verities than any other country. To get more technical expertise, Pakistan can float a formal proposal concerning Chinese assistance for the wonderful cultivation of kiwi.  It is important for Pakistan to conduct workshops concerning kiwi plantation. Initiatives must be taken to make the farmers aware of the economic value of kiwi. As the world market for kiwi is growing day by day, it is important to get benefit for the economic uplift and poverty alleviation in Pakistan.