The government of Uttarakhand in India is guiding farmers toward high-value cash crops through new policies focused on kiwi and dragon fruit cultivation. These initiatives are expected to benefit over 35,000 farmers across several districts.
Under the Kiwi Policy, farmers receive a 70% subsidy—up to $14,400 per acre—for establishing orchards, with the remaining 30% to be contributed by the beneficiaries. The policy excludes Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, targeting the remaining 11 districts. With a total budget of $107.5 million, the program aims to expand kiwi cultivation to 3,500 hectares, benefiting around 17,500 farmers. Currently, kiwi is grown on 683 hectares in the state, producing 382 metric tons annually.
The Dragon Fruit Cultivation Scheme is being implemented in Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar, Nainital, Bageshwar, Pauri, Dehradun, and Tehri. It encourages modern, scientific cultivation methods and offers an 80% subsidy, equivalent to $9,600 per acre, with the remaining 20% to be covered by the farmer. By 2027-28, a total investment of $1.8 million is projected to benefit 450 farmers. Dragon fruit is currently cultivated on 35 acres, yielding 70 metric tons annually.
Source: Garhwal Post