PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
The Dehradun district administration has launched a blueberry farming pilot project to help farmers earn more. Ten farmers from the Sahaspur area have been selected for the project. Dehradun district magistrate Ashish Chauhan said that if the project is successful, it will be expanded to other areas in the future. Chauhan said that the Horticulture department found the climate and soil conditions of Sahaspur suitable for blueberry farming after conducting a detailed study. ” The selected farmers will receive 500 blueberry plants with an 80 per cent subsidy. The plants will be grown in polyhouses developed with the support of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD),” he added.
The DM said that the farmers will also be trained in scientific farming methods, irrigation management and plant care. The district administration will help farmers find good markets for their produce so they can get better prices.
“While Doon Basmati has earned a name across the country, blueberry farming can become a new source of income for farmers in Dehradun,” Chauhan said.
Chief horticulture officer D K Tiwari said that blueberries are a high value crop and sell for about Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per kilogramme in the market. He said that rising demand for healthful and antioxidant-rich fruits has increased the commercial potential of blueberry farming. The plants are expected to start producing fruit within two years.
