Archit Watts
Tribune News Service
Muktsar, March 3
Kinnow growers in the region are facing a crisis as the prices fell sharply this season, with the fruit fetching just Rs 10 per kg on an average as compared to last year’s Rs 20 per kg. This has resulted in nearly 35-40 per cent plunge in the returns.
A majority of the kinnow growers blamed cartelisation by traders, unfavourable weather, heavy crop, size issue and unavailability of proper marketing policy, etc for the dip. They also claimed that nearly 25 per cent of the fruit was yet to be picked up from orchards.
“There is no proper marketing policy in place. Even the Abohar mandi, which is the main market, did not prove beneficial for the growers this season. Moreover, when the fruit season was about to begin, some traders said the produce was double than last year, which slashed the prices. However, actually the fruit produce is nearly 40 per cent more than last year. But now, the western disturbance is proving as another factor for the lower prices,” said Avneet Brar, a kinnow grower from Daulatpura village in Fazilka district.
He said, “Also, a mobile app for the marketing of the fruit was introduced this year in association with the Punjab Agro, but that too did not prove much beneficial. The state government should introduce better marketing techniques.”
Mohit Setia, another kinnow grower from Sappanwali village, said, “Yesterday, we sold the fruit at a lump sum contract of Rs 9 per kg. Earlier, we were waiting for the price to pick up, anticipating it to reach Rs 12 per kg in February. However, it did not happen. Last year, we sold the fruit in mid-October and that too at Rs 22 per kg.”
Even in the retail market, kinnow remained available at less than Rs 20 per kg this season.
A state awardee farmer from Abul Khurana village, Balwinder Singh Tikka, said, “Only those kinnow growers were benefitted this season, who sold their produce during the initial days. Later, the unfavourable weather in February resulted in fruit dropping, decreased prices and quality.”
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