Citrus greenhouse in Punjab

Our Economy Bureau
23 September 2003

Chandigarh: Punjab will soon figure in the world citrus production map. Thanks to the joint initiative of Punjab Agri Export Corporation (Pagrexco) and PepsiCo, a state-of-the-art citrus green house was inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

Speaking at the function he said: "The introduction of new processing and table quality citrus cultivars is the need of the hour for Punjab horticulture. Kinnow is the predominantly grown citrus cultivar in the state. Monoculture of Kinnow may be harmful as more and more diseases continue affecting the crop, hence resulting in reduction of yield and quality of fruit. Also the problem of bitterness associated with the juice of Kinnow have restricted its use in processing industries."

In the long run, this project will be of great significance for diversification away from paddy-wheat towards high value crops, he said. The 9,600-sq ft greenhouse is set up at the Agri Research and Development (R&D) centre in Jallowal, about 24 km from Jalandhar.

Its key features include:

• State-of-the-art climate control, including temperature, humidity and light
  
• Constructed with 12mm GE Lexan UV protected sheeting with a galvanised steel frame
  
• Raised and tiled concrete floor
  
• 28 rolling benches
  
• Fully automated water boom irrigation system

Citrus stocks will now be moved into the environment-controlled greenhouse to allow budding and grafting operations to proceed round the year.

Post the satisfactory completion of the quarantine period, 'finished' citrus trees will now be taken to eight demonstration plots in Punjab to show the new citrus cultivation technology to interested farmers. These eight locations include Ludhiana, Bahadurgarh, Gangian, Gurdaspur, Abohar, Khanaura (Hoshiarpur), Attari (Amritsar) and Majra (Ropar). Pepsico will shortly make available various citrus saplings to the farmers.