Kandi peach growers show the way for diversification of crops

Tribune News Service

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Nawanshahr, June 8

Kandi peach farmers in Balachaur sub-division have shown path to the distressed farming community. They have adopted diversification in agriculture and started fruit production in this area, having lesser irrigation facility.

Being the sub-mountainous area, the climate of the Kandi is more conducive to peach farming.

Kehar Singh of Bachhauri village, who is a peach grower, is visibly elated to have remunerative price of his 1.5 acres peach farm. The six-year-old 150 plants have fetched him Rs 3 lakh. Sharing his experience, he said traditional farming was not profitable profession in this Kandi belt due to continuously decreasing underground water level. But as a fruit grower, he has started earning handsome profit for his crop.

Similarly, peach growers, Gurdev Singh of Bachhauri, Parkash Ram of Phirni Majara, and Joginder Singh of Mandhiani also endorsed the views Kehar Singh. They said they were getting more profit than that of traditional crops.

Assistant Director Horticulture Dinesh Kumar adds that peach farming needs well-drained loamy soils and Kandi belt soil in Balachaur, is most conducive to growing of peach. Due to such beneficial properties, approximate 150 hectares of land is under peach farming in this area, he added.

Terming Phirni Majara, Tapparian Ranewal, Sahdra, Bhannu, Bachhauri and Mojowal Majara of block Saroya in Balachaur as a cluster of peach orchards, he said that the progressive farmers, who had sold their crop at their own, fetched a profit of Rs. 80,000 to one lakh per annum.

Horticulture development officer Rajesh Kumar told that due to non availability of other fruit crops, peach crop had high demand in market. Describing the role of Horticulture Department, he said that we guided them how to pluck the fruit, including grading and packing to the farmers so that fruit could be marketed well to attract a  handsome price.

An interesting fact that has emerged is that Partap variety of peach that has white pulp is most sought after in Delhi market and thus fetches good profit than others. He said some fruit growers like to sell crop on lease after its ripening and others like to sale at their own. This year the plants have bulk peach fruit that adds to the income of the farmers, he said.

Another horticulture expert, Jagdish Singh Kahma told that out of 150 hectares of land under peach fruit, 80 percent have grown Shaan-e-Punjab variety that has much demand in local market while Early Gland and Partap have been grown in rest of the area. Peach plant takes two years for growing to fruit. In this growing period, one could sow pulses and other vegetables in these fields. A peach tree gives quality fruit after an age of three years and one tree gives upto 70 kg fruit per annum.

Assistant Director Dinesh Kumar said that the Kandi belt has a potential of big cluster for peach fruit that would be helpful in facilitating the fruit growers requisite cultivation facilities as well as hassle free marketing opportunities.