Poor demand, considerable manufacturing, and early plucking of the produce this winter have left growers of kinnow, a citrus mandarin fruit in Punjab, grappling for a good value for his or her season’s harvest.
Production of kinnow, a hybrid between King (Citrus Nobilis) and Willo Leaf (Citrus Deliciosa) mandarins, is prone to see a bounce from final yr’s 12 Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) to 13.50 LMT this season in Punjab, a serious producer of kinnow in the nation.
Growers in the State are apprehensive over the drop in kinnow value in the continued season in comparison with final yr. At the identical time, the officers are optimistic of kinnows fetching a greater value in the approaching days following a dip in temperature in the area, which might improve high quality of the fruit.
In Fazilka district’s Abohar, a key kinnow-producing area in Punjab, Sudhir Bishnoi of Bishanpura village is anxious as he fears substantial loss this season. “We are getting significantly lower prices for the fruit when compared to last year. There is almost a 50% drop in the price for the grower. I have so far sold half of my produce between ₹7 and ₹8 per kg while last year it fetched around ₹15-₹16,” Mr. Bishnoi, who owns an orchard unfold over 4 acres, advised The Hindu.
“Interestingly, while we are getting lower prices for the produce, the fruit is being sold in the retail market for almost the same price as last year, which is around ₹32-₹35 per kg. This indicates that middlemen are reaping the profit while growers and the consumers are suffering,” added Mr. Bishnoi. He demanded that the State intervene and stated when kinnow costs fall drastically, as they’ve this yr, the State can buy the produce from the grower.
“Government intervention is all the more important in the wake of the government’s big talks about promoting crop diversification. If the government is serious about promoting crop diversification in the State, then a mechanism for assured price and purchase of the produce has to be put in place,” he stated.
In Punjab, harvesting of kinnow normally begins in December and continues until February-end. According to State authorities knowledge, the entire space beneath kinnow in Punjab is round 47,000 hectares this season. Apart from Fazilka, kinnow can be grown in Hoshiarpur, Muktsar, Bathinda and some different districts.
Balwinder Singh, nodal officer (citrus) in the State Horticulture Department, in the meantime, is optimistic that kinnow costs would see an increase in the times to return as winter season is setting in and demand can be prone to improve. “Improved production is one reason behind the drop in kinnow prices. The other reason has been the early plucking of the fruit by some growers. As some growers began plucking the fruit before it reached maturity, as early as the first week of November, the quality [size and colour] was impacted, which lowered the price. Mid-December is the appropriate time to begin kinnow harvesting, as the winter sets in. Kinnow crop thrives in cold conditions. I am quite hopeful that the price will improve in the days to come as weather conditions are becoming conducive. Also, demand from cities like Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Delhi has started to increase, which is a good sign,” he stated.
Amid the worth disaster, the Fazilka native administration additionally intervened final month to make sure the growers get a good value. “Kinnow growers from Abohar, commission agents, and district administration officials held a meeting last month and it was decided that commission agents in the Abohar market [mandi] would purchase kinnow at a minimum price, between ₹10 to ₹14 a kg [depending on quality] from the farmers,” stated Mr. Singh.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimal and most temperatures are hovering in regular vary in Punjab and chilly wave circumstances in sure components might intensify over the subsequent few days. “In a few districts including Fazilka, cold wave and foggy conditions are expected to gain strength in the next few days,” stated A.Okay. Singh, head at IMD-Chandigarh.
Expressing dismay over poor returns for his kinnow crop, Kapil Bishnoi, one other grower of Meharana village who has planted kinnows on a 10-acre orchard, stated, “Last year, I got around ₹24 per kg for my good quality crop but this season the market has crashed and I had to sell the same produce at ₹8 per kg. At this price, even recovering my input cost, which is around ₹50,000 per acre, has become difficult. I am not even thinking about making a profit. The trader says there’s less demand, and hence low price,” he stated.
Vinay Huria, a dealer related to a kinnow processing plant in Abohar, attributed the anticipated bountiful manufacturing and poor high quality of kinnow to be amongst causes behind the drop in the fruit’s costs. “All signs point to bountiful production this season in comparison to the previous year. The quality has gone down as size is small due to overcrowding of fruit on tree branches. Also, demand from other States of the country has so far been relatively less. Good quality fruit is fetching ₹12-13 per kg, which is almost half of last year’s price,” he stated.
The kinnow mandarin has emerged as Punjab’s flagship citrus fruit. Kinnow tree is famend for its bountiful yield of high-quality and juice-rich fruits.
