Kinnow orchards flourish in Haryana wasteland

Tag : Kinnow

Once a wasteland in several villages in Sirsa district of Haryanais now home to lucrative Kinnow orchards.
These orchards have been set up over 100 acres of rain-fedpanchayati wasteland in 19 villages of Sirsa district at a cost ofRs two crore.
The orchards were aimed at supplementing the income of panchayatsand attracting farming community towards horticulture crops, anofficial spokesman said.
These orchards had been set up by getting the undulating landlevelled under the National Employment Guarantee Scheme. DistrictSirsa was known for producing Kinnow in the state. Kinnow orchardshad been set up over an area of five acres each in the villageMitthanpura, Mattar, Jhoradrohi, Sahuwala Pratham, Audhan,Dholpalia, Bhadolanwali, Hassu, Nuhiyanwali, Tejakhera, JandwalaJattan, Rohidanwali, Choburja, Mohammadpuria, Keharwala, Tarkanwaliand Godika of Sirsa district.
He said the land, which was lying waste and unutilised in the past,had now become a source of income for village Panchayats, as theseorchards would be given on contract ranging up to Rs one lakh perannum by the Panchayats. As such these Kinnow orchards would accruea minimum income of Rs five lakh to the village panchayat asintensive farming was being done on these orchards by growingvegetables between two rows of fruit trees, he added.
The spokeman said the Drip Irrigation System had also beeninstalled in these orchards for their irrigation. A water tank hadalso been dug besided the gardens, which were filled with canalwater. Drip Irrigation System had proved a very successful mode ofirrigation for these orchards, he added.
-- (UNI) -- 20DC45.xml