Fair winds have blown on Punjab kinnow growers this season, who have had 50 per cent growth in incomes over last season as a result of high demand and lower production, reported The Hindu.
“This year, kinnow growers fetched higher returns from their crop in comparison with last year primarily because of fall in production and surge in demand for the fruit,” said Deputy Director of Punjab Horticulture and Nodal Office (Citrus) Gurkamal Singh.
He said incomes per acre this season were between Rs125,000 and Rs150,000 (US$2,570-3,084), whereas last year they were only Rs80,000-90,000 (US$1,644-1,850).
Market price for the fruit improved significantly over last year, with kinnows averaging Rs13 (US$0.27) per kilogram from last year’s Rs7 (US$0.14).
“This season, with kinnow output expected to decline by one lakh tonne `100,000 tonnes`, the farmers were able to generate good income from their crop,” said Mr Singh.
