Doti farmers interested in growing kiwi

By Our Correspondent,Doti, July 29: The interest of farmers in the cultivation of kiwi fruit is increasing in Doti district. 

About 64.96 tonnes of kiwi have been produced in 28 hectares area of different places of the district in this season.

Kiwi is being cultivated in Badikedar Rural Municipality, Zorayal Rural Municipality, Dipayal Silgarhi Municipality, Bogtan Fudsil Rural Municipality, Adarsh Rural Municipality and some other places in the district. 

According to Ganga Dutta Awasthi, Acting Head of Agricultural Knowledge Centre in Doti, the number of farmers cultivating kiwi has been increasing, recently.

"By the Fiscal Year 2021/22, about 35 tonnes of kiwi was produced in nine hectares of land. The production went up to 49.4 tonnes in 21 hectares in FY 2022/23, and 64.96 tonnes in 28 hectares in the last FY 2023/24," he said. 

In the early days, farmers considered kiwi cultivation a difficult task but after the fruit started getting a good market, the interest of farmers in growing kiwi has increased. 

Padam Bohra, a farmer from Dudila village of Badikedar -5, who has been cultivating kiwi, said, "I had to work hard for the first few years. But now kiwi is more rewarding than grains and vegetables. I hope to sell four quintals of kiwi this year and 10 quintals next year."

Farmers who have been cultivating kiwi in the areas around Bhimdatta Highway in Doti, are getting the demands from the traders in India as well. Bhaskar Bhatta, a farmer of Jorayal, said that he got the demand for 10 quintals of kiwi last year. 

Kiwi is also being cultivated well even in the fallow land and areas where the production of food crops is low. 

Last year, the market price of kiwi was Rs. 200 to Rs. 250 per kg. Farmers said that even if they can sell Rs. 200 per kg of kiwi, it’s a good price. Currently, more than 60 farmers are cultivating kiwi fruit in the district.

Meanwhile, insurance companies have also started bringing Kiwi farming under the scope of insurance. Rastriya Bima Company has insured kiwi farming of Bhaskar Bhatta, for the first time. His 500 plants of kiwi have been insured for Rs. 2.5 million rupees.