Kiwifruit producers in India’s Himachal Pradesh state have reported an upturn in domestic demand, which they are attributing to the Commonwealth Games.
Thaindian News reports growers in the hilly state are seeing good returns for all four varieties cultivated in the area.
“There are four varieties of kiwifruit: Hayward, Monty, Bruno, Allison, and all four are getting a good response in the market,” said Anil Khullar, who has been cultivating kiwifruit in the region for the past 10 years.
Kiwifruit grower Nakul Khullar also said the Commonwealth Games has created more demand for the fruit.
The government of Himachal Pradesh is providing an incentive to kiwifruit growers by offering financial aid.
“Farmers are getting good support for cultivating kiwifruit orchards. If any farmer wants to plant kiwifruit on his land, then for every one hectare of land he will be given Rs22,500 by the government,” said the state’s horticulture department deputy director A. K. Gupta.
“At the maximum, one farmer can work on four hectares of land, and for that he will be given Rs90,000 as aid by the government,” he added.
