Horticulture takes root in Haryana

Parveen Arora

Horticulture is catching the fancy of farmers in Haryana as some of them are shifting from the traditional pattern of paddy and wheat. More and more farmers are reaping dividends from the farming of vegetables, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants, and fruits, besides beekeeping.

Considering investment and other issues of managing traditional crops, horticulture is becoming popular due to the availability of subsidy from the Horticulture Department.

“Union and state governments extend 65 per cent subsidy (50 plus 15) to farmers for setting up poly-houses and net houses. The poly-house costs around Rs 34 lakh on one acre, while the cost of a net-house is Rs 24 lakh on one acre,” says Madan Lal, District Horticulture Officer, Karnal. 

The proximity to Delhi, where the demand for fruits, vegetables and flowers is high, gives Haryana’s farmers an edge over those from other states, while they are also catering to the local market.

Sanjay Kumar Pundir, who has been doing flower cultivation since 1998 at Nagla Megha village, finds it more rewarding than wheat-paddy farming. “I started hi-tech rose cultivation two decades ago on four acres. I produce around 4 lakh rose sticks per year, which are sold for around Rs 12 lakh. I earn about Rs 6 lakh annually after deducting all expenses,” he adds.

Cultivation of vegetables and fruits fetches more profit than wheat and paddy for Narinder Chauhan, who has grown low-chilling apple in hot weather at Uchana village in Karnal district. He is getting a good yield of figs (anjeer), almonds, amla, guava and mango. “Applying technical knowhow is the key,” he says.

The introduction of protected cultivation in the state has given further boost to vegetable production, particularly tomato, capsicum and cucumber. The varieties for protected cultivation are different than those for open cultivation. The quality of produce is very good and fetches remunerative prices in the market. The introduction of micro-irrigation drip sprinkler and micro-sprinklers has given a fillip to horticulture in the state. The main advantage of micro-irrigation is saving in water and enhancing the quality of production.

The state Horticulture Department has established centres of excellence in vegetables, fruits, sub-tropical and tropical fruits, and beekeeping in collaboration with Israel. Haryana boasts of four Indo-Israel projects — Centre of Excellence for vegetables, Gharaunda, Karnal; Centre of Excellence for citrus fruits, Mangiana, Sirsa; Centre of Excellence for sub-tropical fruits, Ladwa, Kurukshetra; and Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre, Ram Nagar, Kurukshetra.

Deepak Kumar Dhattarwal, Deputy Director, Horticulture, and incharge, Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables, Gharaunda, says farmers are adopting protected cultivation through poly-houses, net-houses, walk-in-tunnels and low tunnels. “We are producing capsicum of various colours, tomatoes and seedless cucumber. We impart four-day residential training to farmers, professionals and corporates for protected cultivation. We are also helping the farmers in raising nurseries of different vegetables under hi-tech poly-houses at 50 per cent subsidy,” he adds.

The introduction of hybrid seeds of vegetables by the private and public sectors has increased the yield manifold compared to traditional methods and seeds, says Dhattarwal.

State dossier

• The Haryana Government has established Potato Technology Centre at Shamgarh in Karnal, where tissue culture-based, virus-free seed production of potato is being done. “We will soon have aeroponic technology which will help in increasing mini-tuber production manifold,” says PK Mehta, senior consultant at the centre.

• Satinder Yadav, Deputy Director, Horticulture, says farmers are adopting protected cultivation for vegetables as the state and Union governments are providing subsidy of 65 per cent. According to him, horticultural crops require less water, keep environment clean and provide more employment opportunities compared to the general agricultural crops.