Strawberry cultivation produced in Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra is now in Chhattisgarh
Farmers are getting attracted in other districts including Jashpur, Ambikapur
Getting help from National Horticulture Mission
Raipur, 02 February 2023
Strawberry cultivation is becoming popular in the cold regions of Chhattisgarh. Due to its delicious taste and medicinal value, it is eaten with great taste. State’s Jashpur, Ambikapur, Many farmers are cultivating it in Balrampur area. Due to the demand of Strawberry, it is being consumed locally. Farmers are constantly getting attracted due to the benefits they get from its cultivation. An income of 4 to 5 lakhs can be taken from its cultivation in one acre of land. In Jashpur district, 25 farmers have cultivated strawberries on 6 acres. Strawberry saplings of Winter Dawn species have been planted in Jashpur. These farmers are getting technical guidance and other assistance under the National Horticulture Mission, a scheme of the Horticulture Department. Farmers say that the quality of strawberries grown in Chhattisgarh is good and traders are getting fresh fruits due to local production. Due to which they are getting good response.
Strawberry farming is 8 to 9 times more profitable
than paddy. Where as paddy cultivation requires soil fertility as well as more water and temperature, it can be sown in normal land and normal irrigation for strawberry. Where more care is needed in paddy cultivation, there is less need for care for strawberry, only cold weather is needed for it. While an income of about 50 thousand can be taken from paddy in one acre, there can be an income of 3 to 4 lakhs in strawberry cultivation. In this way one gets 8-9 times the income from paddy. Strawberry cultivation can be taken up in the cold regions of Chhattisgarh. For this the area of Ambikapur, Korea, Balrampur, Surajpur Jashpur of the state is suitable.
Considering the adaptability of climate in Jashpur suitable for cold zone farming , 25 farmers have taken Strawberry crop in 6 acres. These farmers planted strawberry saplings in October and the plants started bearing fruits in December. As soon as the fruits arrived, the farmers did good packaging either through Haritkrati Adivasi Sahakari Samiti or by themselves. Responses started pouring in within no time with the packaging. In Jashpur, 25 farmers have planted two thousand saplings each. Due to this, till now every farmer has got an income of about 40 to 70 thousand rupees. Farmers told that the strawberry plants will bear fruits by March, from which a farmer can earn about one to one and a half lakh rupees. At the same time, there is a possibility of producing about 3000 kg of strawberry fruit from one farmer and total production of 75000 kg of strawberry from all the farmers.
It is not necessary for the land to be fertile.
Mr. Dhaneshwar Ram, a farmer from Jashpur told that earlier he had some land which was not very fertile, it was barren. Hardly a small amount of paddy crop could be grown. When he got guidance from experts, he started fruit cultivation. Cooperation was also received from NABARD. He planted 2000 strawberry plants in a field of 25 decimals. Good results have come within three months. They are getting Rs 400 per kg for it in the market. So far he has earned an income of about 70 thousand rupees. He has received mulching and technical help from the National Horticulture Mission.
Used in Cosmetics and Medicines
Strawberries are used in a variety of foods. Strawberry flavor is popular in ice cream, jam jelly, squash etc. Also it is used in various bakery products including pastries, toasts. Due to being an anti-oxidant in Strawberry, it is used for various types of cosmetics, lipsticks, face creams, besides flavoring in children’s medicines.
Effect of strengthening of rural economy: Ravindra Choubey, Agriculture Minister
The impact of Chhattisgarh government’s initiative to strengthen the rural economy is now visible in farming. Farmers are using the input subsidy they are getting in farming for other crops. Farmers are now getting attracted towards horticulture crops instead of traditional paddy cultivation. Congratulations and best wishes for this innovative initiative of the farmers.
