Peaches (Prunus persica), like apricots, belong to the genus Prunus of Rosaceate (rose) family having decorative pink blossoms and a juicy, sweet drupe fruit. They are categorized as "stone fruit", their seed being enclosed in a hard, stone-like endocarp. Peach originated in China, later introduced into Persia. Commercially grown peaches are generally distinguished as clingstone (pit adheres to flesh) or freestone (pit relatively free of the flesh).

China is the leading peach producing country with about 37% share of the total world production followed by the United States and Italy. More than half of this consumption was as fresh; this is likely to increase because of the popularity of fresh-cut fruits in recent years. In Pakistan the environment of N.W.F.P is quite favourable for peach production.

AREA IN "000" HECTARES

	Punjab	Sindh	N.W.F.P	Balochistan	Pakistan
2002-03	0.2	-	5.4	3.6	9.2
2003-04	0.1	-	5.2	9.4	14.7
2004-05	0.1	-	5.5	9.5	15.1
2005-06	0.1	-	5.6	9.5	15.2
2006-07	0.1	-	5.7	9.5	15.4

PRODUCTION IN "000" TONNES

	Punjab	Sindh	N.W.F.P	Balochistan	Pakistan
2002-03	1.1	-	60.2	15.0	76.3
2003-04	0.9	-	56.8	18.7	76.3
2004-05	0.5	-	50.9	18.1	69.5
2005-06	0.5	-	51.6	18.2	70.3
2006-07	0.4	-	53.1	17.7	71.2

YIELD PER HECTARE IN KGS

	Punjab	Sindh	N.W.F.P	Balochistan	Pakistan
2002-03	5500	-	11148	4167	8293
2003-04	9000	-	10923	1989	5190
2004-05	5000	-	9255	1905	4603
2005-06	5000	-	9214	1916	4625
2006-07	4000	-	9316	1844	4623