This year, Fazilka district, Punjab in India has witnessed a record-breaking kinnow citrus fruit production, totaling an expected 11 lakh tonnes. The District Commissioner, Senu Duggal, attributed this success to favorable farming conditions and the availability of canal water even in the district's tail-end villages. The state has allocated 46,841 hectares for kinnow cultivation out of the total 97,000 hectares under fruit cultivation.
Despite the achievement in production, farmers are facing disappointment due to the low market prices. The yield per acre has doubled compared to the previous year, with some farmers, like Karan Wadhwa, reporting an increase from 100 to 200 quintals per acre. However, in the markets of Abohar and Fazilka, only semi-ripe, red-colored fruits have been arriving.
Presently, the kinnow is being exported to various towns in the state, as well as parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Bengaluru. However, market prices are causing concern among farmers. The red-colored kinnow is fetching Rs 15-16 per kg in the wholesale market, mix-colored fruit is sold at Rs 11-12 per kg, and smaller-sized green kinnows are priced at Rs 6-8 per kg. These rates are reportedly insufficient to cover the production costs.
Source: https://www.tribuneindia.com