HYDERABAD: Agricultural experts and progressive farmers have proposed setting up experimental farms of grapes, pomegranate and draeon fruit in Gorakh Hillsarea after successful experiments of the dragon fruit production by Sindh Agriculture University.

They were speaking at a seminar on `Growing Potential of Dragon Fruit in Sindh` organised by the Department of Horticulture, SAU, Tandojam, on Thursday.

SAU Vice Chancellor Dr Fateh Mari said that the university had started research on the cultivation of high-value and high-yield fruits in the province with the aim of improving livelihood and creating opportunities for farmers to get prosperous.

He said that agricultural development had been stagnant for the last 25 years while the university experts had been conducting research on the crops and fruits that required climate and environment differentfrom that in Sindh.

He said that the university would hold the International Medicinal Plants Conference in Umerkot in February 2024.

Prof Noorunnisa Memon, focal person of the dragon fruit growing project, said that for the first time in SAU the dragonfruit growing experiment was carried out successfully.

She said the fruit was in great demand in many countries of the world and only Taiwan exported $2 billion worth fruit. `If we export this fruit as per international standards, it will be in greatdemand in foreign countries, she said.

Dr Fayyaz Alam, general secretary of Dua Foundation, said that Gorakh Hill had a cool climate which suited cultivation of grape, pomegranate and dragon fruit. Syed Nadeem Shah Jamote, Sindh Abadgar Board`ssenior vice president, said that the dragon fruit was a profitable investment but its local marketing needed attention. About 60pc of the onion crop was saved from destruction by SAU and its efforts to provide better seeds to farmers were commendable, he said.