Punjab farmer encourages US deportees to venture into strawberry farming

Chandigarh: Several Indian nationals were deported from the US recently, facing the inhuman treatment. Many deportees are from Punjab, looking for their livelihoods after reaching their respective homes. A strawberry grower from Kauni village in Gidderbaha block, named Jaskaran Singh, has asked US deportees that nothing has been lost; he advised them to venture into the horticulture sector, which is likely to fetch income and settle life.

Jaskaran started strawberry farming from 1 acre in 2012; currently he has been cultivating on 8 acres. His success fetched him accolades from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). He said strawberry cultivation might help them earn Rs 4-6 lakh per acre annually. He has hired about 35 people on his farm. He said the US deportees or anyone else can visit his strawberry farm.

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“I was an ordinary farmer till 2012. Later shifted from traditional farming to horticulture crops, met former CM Parkash Singh Badal. I urge those who deported from the USA recently to come and visit my fields to get the knowledge of advanced farming techniques for strawberries,” he said. People are mostly hesitant to reveal their professional secrets to anyone, but I don’t have any problem sharing my expertise,” he said.

Strawberry cultivation is a money-making fruit. On average, 25,000 seedlings can be planted in one-acre land, transporting from Wai in Maharashtra, costing about Rs 2.5 lakh. The labour cost would be about Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh. The demand for strawberries is high in the domestic and international markets due to the fact that they are packed with vitamin C and other antioxidants. It is being sold in the market at a price of Rs 200-250 per kg. The plantation process got under way in mid-September and continued through October, and within four months it started bearing fruit.