Kinnow yield down 50%, price may hit record high

Kinnow, which is selling at Rs 50 a kg in the retail market, is likely to touch a record Rs 100 per kg rate in February next year. The reason: The fruit yield this year is almost half as compared to that in the last year.

Last year, the highest price touched by kinnow in the retail market was Rs 50 a kg.

Though the fruit is available in the market even now, its best will enter the market by the end of December. Kinnow is primarily grown in Fazilka, Muktsar and Hoshiarpur districts. As per a report, the total area under kinnow cultivation in the state is around 40,000 hectares.

Significant fruit drop

Weather was hot in March this year (flowering stage of the fruit) and there was no rain during

the month. Canal closure forced orchardists to use underground water, which helped them in saving trees, but caused significant fruit drop. The yield is, therefore, lower this year. —Rajinder Sharma, a fruit trader

Balwinder Singh Tikka, a state awardee kinnow grower from Abul Khurana village, said, “The economics of growers depends on quantity, not just the price. However, this season, the yield is almost 40 per cent of its average. If the orchard’s per acre average yield is 150 quintal, this year it will be only 40 quintal. The initial retail price is Rs 50 per kg and in February-March it is expected to rise Rs 80-100 per kg.”

Meanwhile, some traders said good quality kinnow was presently fetching Rs 25 per kg in the wholesale market, while green-coloured fruit was fetching Rs 15 per kg, compared to Rs 12-15 and Rs 7-8, respectively, during the same period last year.

“Kinnow yield generally remains high one year and comes down the next year. Weather was hot in March this year (flowering stage of the fruit) and there was no rain during the month. Canal closure forced orchardists to use underground water, which helped them save their fruit trees, but caused significant fruit drop. The yield is, therefore, lower this year, but the prices are nearly double,” said Rajinder Sharma, a fruit trader.

Mohit Setia, a kinnow grower from Sappanwali village in Fazilka district, said, “A number of fruit trees dried up last year due to various reasons, including waterlogging, canal closure, high temperature, etc. High prices alone can’t cover the expenses. The input costs are increasing, while the income is decreasing every year.”

Meanwhile, Sukhdev Singh, Assistant Director, Horticulture Department, Muktsar, said, “The yield of kinnow is less this year, but the prices are better. The growers are likely to make good money.”