Visiting Citrus Estate and Farm Produce Promotion Society, Bhunga here on Friday, Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain emphasised that crop diversification is need of the hour and farmers should adopt it instead of following traditional crops cycle.
Reviewing the grading and waxing unit of kinnows at the citrus estate, Deputy Commissioner also took stock of agricultural machinery being rented to farmers, supply of organic fertilizers specially prepared for farmers and store pesticides. She said that farmers should take maximum support and benefit from the experts of the citrus estate to cultivate vegetables and fruits as per modern techniques.
She said that farmers could get great help in proper marketing of their produce in addition time to time required information.Apprising the Deputy Commissioner about the citrus estate in the field of horticulture, Chairman-cum-CEO. Dr. Jaspal Singh Dheri said that about 1400 farmers are associated with this unit who are directly or indirectly getting the agri benefits.
With adoption of horticulture, farmers can save natural resources water through drip irrigation said Dr. Dheri adding that the estate had graded and waxed about 1000 tons of kinnow this season, which would increase in time to come. He said that there is also unbounded scope for groundnut cultivation in the district, which could be focused with the expertise.
Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain, while interacting with the farmers, said that the Punjab government has proposed new initiatives during the financial year 2025-26 to further boost horticulture, which also includes Hoshiarpur district ensuring benefits for horticulturalists of the region. She said that the cultivation of groundnut will also be given a boost as per its potential.
Progressive farmers Paramjit Singh Kalivahar, Rajinder Singh Dhillon and others, while talking to the Deputy Commissioner, demanded the setting up of dehydration machinery to dry fruits and vegetables at the Citrus Estate. They said that a 500 meter of tonne capacity cold store is also needed at estate to boost kinnow processing.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner, along with Citrus Estate Advisor Dr. Arbind Singh Dhoot and progressive farmers, visited the Farm Produce Promotion Society (FAPRO) and also reviewed the crushing of sugarcane as well as preparing of jaggery through modern techniques.
She also inspected the honey processing plant and commented that the region’s specialty of multi flower honey production , which is famous worldwide for its high quality. Aashika Jain also assured all possible help to the farmers in production of honey.
Dr. Arbind Singh Dhoot informed the Deputy Commissioner that FAPRO is association more than 300 farmers besides promoting crop diversification in the region. He said that under crop diversification, farmers are being connected with turmeric cultivation, which is currently a major profitable produce.
Deputy Commissioner initiated the purchase of turmeric crop of farmers and sale of its seeds on this occasion. Prominent amongst others, progressive farmers Captain Harteg Singh, Paramjit Singh, Harvinder Singh, Jograj, Harprem Vashisht, Jaswant Singh Chautala, Sukhjinder Pannu were also present.
Caption: Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain visiting Citrus Estate Bhunga. Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain looking at crushing of sugarcane and process of making jaggery at FAPRO. Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain visiting FAPRO along with progressive farmers.