Farmer opts for reverse migration, aims to revitalise horticulture in Punjab

Harmanpreet Singh, a marginal farmer owning 2.5 acres of land in Taragarh Talawan village of Jandiala, left for Ethiopia at the age of 23 in 2010 in search of a better future. He took a chunk of land on lease to grow cotton in Ethiopia and experimented with other crops and fruit plants. In search of more suitable land for fruit cultivation, he acquired small land chunks in East African countries, including Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

In 2013, he sent two avocado plants back home, which his brother planted in their kitchen garden. When Harmanpreet returned in 2020 for his wedding, he found that the avocado plants were bearing abundant fruit. “The plant here bore more fruit than the one in Africa. It changed my perception of our soil,” he said. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 pandemic led to a lockdown, giving him time to plan fruit cultivation in Punjab.

During the lockdown, Harmanpreet started a fruit nursery at home, drawing from his experience in Ethiopia. “I have mother plants of several fruit varieties and expertise in grafting. Our farmers, trapped in the wheat-paddy cycle, have lost the ability to identify high-quality plants. Many progressive farmers such as Gurbinder Singh Bajwa of Young Progressive Farmers have been in touch with me for a long time. I have started assisting farmers to establish fruit orchards. Now, we have planted several dragon fruit and apple gardens in the region,” said Harmanpreet.

He registered a brand under the name Singh Agro and now offers over 500 varieties of flowers, vegetables and fruit plants, including herbal and exotic species, at his nursery on the main GT Road in Jandiala.

“There is immense potential in horticulture. With shrinking agricultural land due to unplanned urban growth and a rising population, the existing fruit orchards are insufficient to meet demand. Our youth should recognise the value of our soil,” said Harmanpreet.