Crop diversification plan hits rough patch

The Punjab governments plans of crop diversification seems to have hit a rough patch as area under horticulture has increased by just 7,000 hectares this year.

Sources said horticulture covers just 7-9 per cent of the total cultivated land in the state. This should be enhanced at least up to 15 per cent of the total area, a senior officer of horticulture department said.

Punjab is one of the major producers of wheat and paddy.

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In 2009-10 there was total 2.51 lakh hectare under horticulture including 1.83 lakh hectare under vegetables and 68,000 hectares under fruits,while in 2010-2011 this area was increased to around 2.58 lakh hectare only.

The target was to increase it by 9,000 hectare4,000 hectare of fruits and 5,000 hectare of vegetables.

Farmers wanted to increase the area under horticulture but Minimum Support Price (MSP) of wheat and paddy has been a great attraction. Also,fears that they may find it difficult to market other crops have restrained them for diversification,horticulture department sources said.

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