Kinnow orchards flourish in Haryana wasteland

Chandigarh, Jun 20 (UNI) Once a wasteland in several villages in Sirsa district of Haryana is now home to lucrative Kinnow orchards.

These orchards have been set up over 100 acres of rain-fed panchayati wasteland in 19 villages of Sirsa district at a cost of Rs two crore.

The orchards were aimed at supplementing the income of panchayats and attracting farming community towards horticulture crops, an official spokesman said.

These orchards had been set up by getting the undulating land levelled under the National Employment Guarantee Scheme. District Sirsa was known for producing Kinnow in the state.

Kinnow orchards had been set up over an area of five acres each in the village Mitthanpura, Mattar, Jhoradrohi, Sahuwala Pratham, Audhan, Dholpalia, Bhadolanwali, Hassu, Nuhiyanwali, Tejakhera, Jandwala Jattan, Rohidanwali, Choburja, Mohammadpuria, Keharwala, Tarkanwali and Godika of Sirsa district.

He said the land, which was lying waste and unutilised in the past, had now become a source of income for village Panchayats, as these orchards would be given on contract ranging up to Rs one lakh per annum by the Panchayats.

As such these Kinnow orchards would accrue a minimum income of Rs five lakh to the village panchayat as intensive farming was being done on these orchards by growing vegetables between two rows of fruit trees, he added.

The spokeman said the Drip Irrigation System had also been installed in these orchards for their irrigation. A water tank had also been dug besided the gardens, which were filled with canal water.

Drip Irrigation System had proved a very successful mode of irrigation for these orchards, he added.

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