Due to lack of irrigation sources and good remuneration from off-season vegetables, farmers in the state are shifting from citrus fruit cultivation to off-season vegetables.
Kangra, Sirmaur, Solan, Mandi, Hamirpur, Kullu and Una are the main districts involved in citrus fruit farming.
Deputy director of the horticulture department, Kangra, DS Rana said citrus fruits were traditionally grown in Kangra district, but due to climatic conditions, there was a decrease in production.
In the past three years, constant decline was recorded in production of citrus fruit in the state. In 2010-11, the production was 28,676 metric tonnes, while it dropped to 25,037 in 2011-12 and 24, 316 in 2012-13.
Deputy director of the horticulture department, Sirmaur, Sushil Kumar said people in Sirmaur were producing citrus fruits for the past many years. Not only orange and kinnow, but malta and Galgal were majorly produced, but now due to depletion in water resources and good payment from off-season vegetables, people had shifted from citrus fruits.
According to the data of the agriculture department in 2011-12, Sirmaur district recorded 1,61,690 metric tonne productions on 7,369 hectares, while Kangra district recorded 1,53,789 metric tonnes production on 7,376 hectares.
{{/usCountry}}According to the data of the agriculture department in 2011-12, Sirmaur district recorded 1,61,690 metric tonne productions on 7,369 hectares, while Kangra district recorded 1,53,789 metric tonnes production on 7,376 hectares.
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