Downhearted by the fall in kinnow production due to the poor availability of canal water in summer and unfriendly climatic conditions, progressive farmers of the Abohar area in Punjab have raised the demand for a subsidy to cultivate date palms.
Farmers informed DC Dr. Senu Duggal, who was on a visit to the Regional Centre of Punjab Agriculture University here, that the date palm cultivation in the area had good potential. They said it could be done in low saline water lands, low water lands, and bean-affected areas. Also, they said that the date could help in crop diversification in the state.
In addition to this, they said that the governments in neighbouring areas of Haryana and Rajasthan were providing subsidies and healthy date palm plants for cultivation to farmers.
Station director Dr PK Arora informed the DC about the research work done at the centre for the promotion of fruit production in the area. This was the oldest research centre in the country where date palm research was being done.
He said in areas where kinnow cannot be cultivated, date palm could be considered. He said date palms can be cultivated in the whole Malwa region.
Dr Anil Kumar Kamra, who is doing research on date palms at the centre, said the female species had three varieties, including ‘Barhi’, ‘Hilavi’ and ‘Khunji’ dates.
He said ‘Barhi’ and Hilavi dates could be cultivated in this area and plants could be prepared with tissue culture for cultivation, which was quite expensive.
He said, “Farmers can take up date palm cultivation if given a subsidy, which can be successful.” Dr Senu Duggal said she would send a report on date palm cultivation to the state government.
Arvind Setia of Sappanwali village, a state award-winning kinnow grower, said as mercury had risen to 33°C, it would further lower the spirit of farmers, who were worried about the fall in kinnow production by 40 to 50 per cent.
