Kinnow growers in Punjab upbeat, prices likely to touch Rs 50/kg

The early arrival of coloured kinnow has brought relief to growers as strong demand has driven prices above Rs 35 per kg, up from around Rs 25 in late November last year. The prices are expected to stay firm through December and may cross Rs 50 per kg by February.

The surge comes amid reduced cultivation area, waterlogging in Fazilka and lower yield of Nagpur orange in Maharashtra, which has boosted kinnow demand.

“The fruit’s real taste develops in the foggy season, but due to the reduced yield, prices have gone up earlier than usual,” said Abohar growers Mohit Setia and Avneet Brar.

Gurpreet Singh, a farmer from Patti Sadiq village in Fazilka, said, “Last February, I got Rs 33 per kg for kinnow. This year, I expect it to touch Rs 40 or more.”

State awardee grower Balwinder Singh Tikka from Muktsar said, “Waterlogging and canal closures have damaged orchards in Abohar and Rajasthan, reducing supply. Some orchards have already sold in advance for up to Rs 5 lakh per acre.”

Inder Sharma, general secretary of the Kinnow Mandi Arhtiya Association in Abohar, said prices jumped from Rs 10-12 per kg at the start of the season to over Rs 35. “Even if rates dip once arrivals increase, these’ll stay strong due to good demand from J&K, Delhi and Haryana,” he added.

Some traders in Abohar said kinnow fetched Rs 50 per kg at the wholesale market in Delhi on Monday. They added that a 10-kg box was sold for Rs 450-500 in Delhi.

According to Kuljeet Singh, Deputy Director (Horticulture), kinnow covers 32,000 hectares in Fazilka district and 45,000 hectares statewide. Despite some losses, cultivation area continues to expand, and prices are likely to peak in February.