Patiala, June 17, 2018: To break free Punjab from the water guzzling wheat-paddy cycle, the initiative of Chief Minister Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh, a Guava Research Estate is coming up on 25 acres of land at village Wajidpur at a cost of Rs 4 cr. The state government has already released grant of Rs 1.25 cr as its first installment.
The Estate will house mother plants of the the best of guava varieties including Allahbadi safeda, L 49, Lucknow 49, shweta, Punjab Safeda, Punjab Kiran, Punjab Arka Amuliya, Punjab Pink and others. Guava cultivators will be given varieties suitable to their soil type at most genuine prices. The farmers will also be imparted knowledge on technical know-how and all other aspects of guava cultivation.
Deputy Director, Horticulture Department, Dr Swaran Singh Maan stated that under the National Horticulture Mission, Punjab government is coming up with guava nursery at village Wajidpur. The nursery aims at increasing per acre yield of guava, increase income of per unit land, prepare the best quality of planting material, increase area under guava cultivation, provide marketing facilities in remote markets and promote industries meant for guava processing.
A committee has been set up to implement this project that includes deputy director horticulture, horticulture development officer, lead bank, Pegrocso, Punjab Mandi Board and PAU representatives besides 10 successful farmers. The government will soon sanction this committee.
He added that currently 960 hectares of land is under guava cultivation that yields 22,070 MT of guava every year and sends to major markets of the country. This has supplemented farm income in a big way.
The Deputy Director said that the Guava Estate will also give horticulture implements like mechanical spray pump, rotavators, diggers, laser levelers and insecticides to farmers.
The project will have separate dedicated staff that will spread information and awareness in different villages. It will also have lab for soil and leaf testing as well as poly cleaning lab, wherein farmers will be given information about different insects, diseases and their treatment. The center will not only be boon for the Patiala district farmers but for entire state as well.