Area under horticulture increases in Muktsar

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 21

The area under horticulture cultivation has increased in Muktsar district. According to data, area under horticulture cultivation was 3,026 hectares in Muktsar district in 2018-19, which has now increased to 3,645 hectares.

Main fruits which are grown in the district are kinnow, guava, peach, pear and ‘ber’ (jujube). Other fruits grown in the district are lemon, plum, amla (gooseberry), ‘jamun’ (Indian blackberry) and pomegranate.

Officials in the Horticulture Department said earlier, farmers used to grow grapes too but they discontinued the practice after the crop used to get damaged in rain.

Muktsar Horticulture assistant director Kuljit Singh said: “In the past few years, the area under fruit-bearing plants has increased in the district and the trend is still on. Problems of waterlogging are now more in Fazilka district and thus there is an increase in this trend. In Muktsar, kinnow is cultivated more.” Waterlogging had once caused an extensive damage to kinnow orchards in the district.

Figures procured from the department revealed that nearly 2,250 hectares area under horticulture was in Lambi block, 700 in Muktsar block, 525 in Malout block and 175 in Gidderbaha block.

Notably, the state government had also established a citrus estate in Badal village here, which is also proving beneficial for horticulturists.