Farmers in Rajasthan grow pomegranates that are in high demand in the Gulf
Pomegranate cultivation has raised farmers’ spirits in Rajasthan’s Barmer district. Around 3,000 of them are earning much more than what they earned from growing traditional crops like the pearl millet. That their fruits are being exported to is proof of their high quality.
At the wholesale fruit market in the Jeewana village, hundreds of traders from across the country can be seen negotiating for prices and buying pomegranate. All photos by Salim Attar.
Jeewana (Barmer), Rajasthan
Prior to 2010, Hanuman Ram Chaudhary lived in a thatched hut with little means to sustain his livelihood. The profits from the cultivation of bajra [pearl millet] were minimal and he had to work as a daily wage labourer to make his ends meet.
However, when cultivators in his village decided to attempt at cultivating pomegranate, 35-year-old Chaudhary also planted 900 saplings and invested Rs 27,000 on almost an hectare of agricultural land.
“I ordered the shipments of saplings from Maharashtra and after almost ten years of cultivation, today there are 4,500 plants of pomegranate which reap income of Rs 7,000,000 per year. Almost Rs 2,000,000 is spent on labour and maintenance and Rs 5,000,000 is my annual profit,” Chaudhary, a resident of Budiwara village in Rajasthan’s Barmer district, told Gaon Connection.
Source: National Horticulture Board
Chaudhary is amongst an estimated 3,000 farmers in Rajasthan’s Barmer district who have scripted success by switching to pomegranate cultivation.
Ten years after setting up his orchard, Chaudhary himself is now the proud owner of two bunglows, an SUV [sports utility vehicle], and a farm tractor.
Cultivators in Budiwara village decided to attempt at cultivating pomegranate, are are seeing success.
Similar is the experience of his neighbour Babulal Chaudhary whose family can now afford a far better standard of living and provides quality education to the children.
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“I could never have imagined this lifestyle had I continued cultivating crops like bajra. Our pomegranate is in high demand across the country. Also, our produce is also exported to countries along the Gulf [Persian Gulf] and even America [United States],” the farmer told Gaon Connection.
‘High market value, finest quality’
At the wholesale fruit market in the Jeewana village, hundreds of traders from across the country can be seen negotiating for prices and buying pomegranate.
One such wholesale fruit trader from Maharashtra’s Pune informed Gaon Connection that the pomegranate grown in Barmer district is of the finest quality in the country.
According to the National Horticulture Board, pomegranate grows well under semi-arid conditions which are found in Barmer district.
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“I buy pomegranate from Barmer because they sell at very high prices back in Pune. These fruits sell for Rs 250 per kilogramme in the retail markets and I buy them for around Rs 110 per kilogramme in the wholesale market here,” Mangesh Chaudhary said.
“Also, some exporters also source their stock from Barmer. They mostly export it to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries,” he added.
According to BL Meena, farm scientist at Gudamalani-based Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Barmer, pomegranate plants require two-three years to start bearing fruits.
“Although insects and pests in pomegranate plants are a constant threat, we provide technical guidance to farmers to safeguard their crops,” Meena told Gaon Connection.
Barmer pomegranate is in high demand across the country and overseas too.
“Today, almost 80,000 hectares of land in Barmer is under pomegranate cultivation and more than 3,000 farmers are cultivating the fruit. In 2010, the acreage was 10,000 hectares,” he added.
Semi-arid soil ideal for pomegranate cultivation
According to the National Horticulture Board, pomegranate grows well under semi-arid conditions which are found in Barmer district.
“It thrives well under hot, dry summer and cold winter provided irrigation facilities are available. The tree requires hot and dry climate during fruit development and ripening. Pomegranate tree is deciduous in areas of low winter temperature and an evergreen or partially deciduous in tropical and sub-tropical conditions. It can tolerate frost to a considerable extent in dormant stage, but is injured at temperature below - 11 degrees celsius,” the board's notes on pomegranate cultivation mention.
It also mentioned that pomegranate is cultivated commercially at a large scale in Maharashtra while small scale plantations are also seen in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu , Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.