Farmer reaps rewards in horticulture

Jasbir Singh Gill, a farmer from Beharwal village near Attari, has successfully diversified his farm by shifting eight acres of land to horticulture, moving away from the traditional wheat-paddy cycle. Jasbir has not only planted pear and guava orchards but also manages the plucking, packaging and marketing of his own produce. He transports pears to Kolkata to fetch better prices.

Recently, a team of experts from the USA, along with farm scientists from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), visited Jasbir Singh’s farm and appreciated his dedication to horticulture and his contribution to crop diversification.

“Earlier, we were wasting a huge quantity of groundwater to grow paddy and struggling to get the minimum support price for our crops. Fruit plants require less water and provide better returns. Most farmers plant orchards but lease them to contractors for fixed profit. However, if they sell the fruits directly in the market, they can eliminate middlemen and earn a better price,” said Gill.

While sharing his journey, Jasbir Singh Gill said, “My brother and I own 16 acres of land. Around 12 years ago, a relative who grew guava orchards in Sultanwind village motivated us to start planting fruit trees on one or two acres. We initially planted guava on two acres and, after a few years, realised that it was more profitable than traditional crops. Encouraged by this success, we expanded our horticulture venture and began growing pears. Initially, we leased our orchards to contractors for a fixed amount, but in recent years, we have taken over the entire process, plucking, packaging, transportation and marketing. This has proven to be more beneficial.”

Jasbir Singh Gill has urged the government to set up processing units in the region to promote horticulture. “We currently pay Rs 300 per box (20 kg) to transport our produce from Amritsar to Kolkata. If the government establishes fruit processing facilities here, we could sell our produce locally,” he said.