Cherry production lures farmers to Kullu

Kullu, May 2 (ANI): Farmers and orchard owners in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu region have taken up growing cherries since the returns are lucrative as compared to other fruits.

The primary destination of these cherry fruits is the wholesale market in Delhi which fetches growers rupees 100 to 150 for a kilograms of their produce.

Kullu produced around 150 metric tones of cherries last year, and this year, the figure is expected to reach 250 metric tonnes.

"Earlier cherry was not considered a commercial fruit but the way it made a mark in the market over the past five to six years with its value has encouraged us. We have started growing cherry as a commercial fruit. The prices could go up to 100 rupees per kilograms but the only drawback of the fruit is its durability, which is very less. That is why we face some problems while sending the fruit to national level markets," said Mahendra, a grower of cherry fruits, Kullu.

According to the state's horticulture department due to more returns, the farmers are opting for growing cherry fruits.

"In the Kullu district cherry is mainly cultivated in Banjar, Nagar and other blocks.

Nearly 150 metric tonnes of cherries are being produced from the Kullu district. Farmers sell these cherries in a box of one kilogram at a price of rupees 100 to 150 per box. Compared to apples, cherry gives more return to farmers," said S K Gupta, Deputy Director, Horticulture Department, Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh earns over 25 billion rupees from produce of fruits.

Cherry is mainly grown in Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti. (ANI)