During the kinnow festival organised at Punjab Agricultural University’s (PAU) seed farm on February 10, experts recommended that Kinnow farmers grow other fruits to help them get better prices. The area under kinnow cultivation has increased from 58 per cent in 2011 to 62 per cent in 2015 and of the 389 citrus fruit varieties, 296 were of kinnow.
Dr P K Arora, the director of PAU seed farm, Abohar, said: “The total area under citrus fruit is 51,587 hectares, out of which 48,142 hectare is for kinnow. Fruits like malta, sweet lime, marsh, foster, lemon and sweet orange are not so popular among the farmers.”
Arora added that since kinnow gives the maximum return, farmers mostly cultivate the fruit.
During the early 70s, over 20,000 hectares was under malta cultivation, this has now reduced to 2,000 hectare at present. Sweet lime, popularly known as meetha and known to be good for malaria patients, is not a popular choice among farmers.
Commenting on why daisy tangerine, the variety recommended by PAU, is not picking up, Arora said: “Few hectares in hilly areas of Punjab tried this variety, which is ready by November. However, if harvesting is done a little late, the fruit develops granulation and hence is not preferred by the farmers.” PAU recommended the variety three years ago.
Source: indianexpress.com
