The Groundnut cultivation in this kandi region is all set to get a big boost as the Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain has handed over a cheque worth Rs. 7.50 lakh to Citrus Estate, Bhunga for setting up state-of-the-art Punjab’s first groundnut processing unit to facilitate groundnut growers in the region.
While giving away the cheque to Chairman-cum-CEO Citrus Estate Jaspal Singh Dheri, committee member Paramjit Singh Kaluwahar, Advisor Arbind Singh Dhoot, the Deputy Commissioner asserted that Punjab Government was keen to promote crop diversification and this step would supplement the efforts in this regard.
She said the processing unit would cater to the technical, marketing and input needs of groundnut growers besides ensuring remunerative price for their produce. Aashika Jain said that the District Administration had already engaged the Punjab State Council for Science & Technology to carry out a detailed research on conservation of groundnut, which would also be helpful and beneficial for growers of the region.
Jaspal Singh Dheri and Paramjit Singh Kaluwahar apprised the Deputy Commissioner that the Citrus Estate would facilitate the growers with quality seeds, technical support and input availability so as to cultivate best groundnut on this sandy soil areas.
They said the processing plant would supplement their income as the Estate would assist them in marketing of their crops on large scale. Dheri said this processing unit would also ensure direct marketing of groundnuts, fruits, vegetables as well as establishing retail outlet to sell direct produce of farmers with roasting and coating facility at plant.
Dr Arbind Dhoot stated that this step would also helpful in the increasing the groundnut cultivable area which was 8000 acres a decade back and presently 3000 acres was under groundnut cultivation. He said the kandi region had best environment, soil health and ecology for this produce, which was less water consuming.
He said farmers could get the benefit of this crop twice in a year as it takes days ranging between 120-130 for one season. Progressive farmer namely Capt. Harteg Singh and Harwinder Singh were also present on the occasion.