11/3/2016

www.businessstandard.com/article/printerfriendlyversion?article_id=116102800446_1

Logo

Rajasthanpromotesprogressivefarmingwitholive
cultivation(Lead,withImages)
IANS|JaipurOctober28,2016LastUpdatedat13:14IST
SahabRamSaharan,afarmerinRajasthan'sSriGanganagardistrict,some15kmfromtheIndiaPakistan
border,findscultivatingtraditionalcropsunprofitable.Now,encouragedbythegovernment,hehasturneda
progressivefarmerbygrowingolivesandhopestoreapaprofitRs10lakhtoRs12lakh($15,000
$18,000)thisyear.
"Afewyearsago,Icametoknowthatthegovernmentispromotingolivecultivationinthestate.We
procuredsaplingsfromthegovernmentandplanted6,700oliveplantsover10hectaresoflandin2013.
Fruitingtakesplacefromthe4thyearonwards,"SahabRam,wholivesinasmallhamletofMaderan,told
IANS.
"Wehaveenteredthefourthyearandarenowexpectinggoodyield,"headded.
HisnephewDeepakSaharan,whostudiedinAustraliawherehecametoknowaboutprogressivefarming,
saidthatgrowthoftheoliveplantsisgoodathisfarmandheisexpectingagoodcrop.
"Wearehopingfor30kgoffruitperplant.Wehavebeentoldthatthegovernmentwillbuybackolivesfrom
us.Theywillpayusaccordingtotheoilcontentinthefruits(13to17percentperfruit).Overallweare
expectingaround10to12lakhrupeesprofit,"DeepaktoldIANS.
SahabRamisnotalone.SeveralfarmersinSriGanganagar,Bikaner,JaipurandNagaurhavediversifiedby
movingfromtheconventionaltocashcropslikeolivesforgoodprofit.
FarmerslikeSahabRamarenoweyeingahugedomesticthatiscurrentlydependentonimportsfrom
countrieslikeIsrael,Turkey,Italy,PortugalandJordan,amongmanyothers.
RajasthanAgricultureMinisterPrabhuLalSainisaidthatfarmerswereincreasinglydiversifyingandopting
forolivecultivation.
"Througholivecultivation,farmersarediversifyingtogethighvaluefortheircrops.Rajasthanispioneering
inprogressivefarming.Wearealsomakingsuccessfuleffortswithcultivatingpomegranatesanddate
palms,"SainitoldIANS.
Accordingtotheofficialsofthestate'sHorticultureDepartment,theRajasthangovernmentinitiatedtheolive
cultivationprojectwithtechnicalsupportfromIsraelin2008.Seeingtheamplepossibilities,thestate
governmentformedtheRajasthanOliveCultivationLtd(ROCL)inthepublicprivatepartnership(PPP)
mode.
ROCLChiefOperationsOfficerYogeshVermasaidthatolivecultivationisatpresentspreadover800
hectares,ofwhich182hectaresisgovernmentland.
Initially,sevenvarietiesofoliveArbequina,Barnea,Coratina,Picholine,Picual,KoroneikiandFrantoio
wereimportedfromIsraelandplantedateightfarmsinJaipur,Jhunjhunu,Bikaner,SriGanganagar,Nagaur,
JaloreandAlwar.
Toprovidehighqualityplantstothefarmers,thestategovernment,withIsrael'shelp,hassetupacentreof
excellenceatJaipur'sBassiarea.
http://www.businessstandard.com/article/printerfriendlyversion?article_id=116102800446_1

1/2

11/3/2016

www.businessstandard.com/article/printerfriendlyversion?article_id=116102800446_1

"Plantsdevelopedthroughtissueculturearefirstkeptinarootingchamber.Rootingtakes2025daysandthe
plantsarethentransferredtothehardeningunitwheretheyareacclimatisedwiththefieldconditions.After
theplantsreach30to50cm,theyareplantedinthefields,"VermatoldIANS.
Headdedthatolivecultivationneedsadequatecoldanddryatmosphereduringwinterandsummer,
respectively.Onanaverage,anoliveplantneeds1015litresofwaterperday.
"Rajasthan'sclimaticconditionsarecongenialtoolivecultivation.Here,thewintertemperaturegoesdownto
45degreesCelsiuswhileinsummersitreachesupto4045degreesCelsius.
"Duringfruiting,olivetreesneedhightemperaturesforaprolongedspell.Theyneedextracareduringthe
rainyseason.Togetgoodproduction,constantpruningoftheplantisnecessary.Themaximumheightofan
olivetreeshouldbekeptat4.5metres,"Vermasaid.
TheRajasthangovernmentalsoprovidessubsidiesonplantsaplings,fertiliseranddripirrigationsystems.
"Weareproviding75percentsubsidyperplantsapling.Forinstance,inonehectare,476saplingswhich
costaroundRs60,145canbeplantedbutthefarmershavetoonlypayRs15,520.Throughthemicro
irrigationscheme,subsidyisalsobeinggiventothefarmersfordripirrigationsystems,"Sainisaid.
Saini,whoishimselfafarmer,sayshorticultureinthestatehasgrown14to18percent.Agriculture
contributes31percenttoRajasthan'sGDP,againsttheservicessector's46percent.
"OuragriculturecontributiontothestateGDPishigherthanthenationalfigureofaround20percent,"the
ministersaid.
HesaidthatRajasthanhas67percentofaridorsemiaridareaandwithprogressivefarming,agriculturists
werebeingtaughttocultivatewithlesswater.
"Thereisasaying,'AgricultureinRajasthanisagamblewithrain'.Wewanttochangethis,"Sainiadded.
(AshishMishrawaspartofadelegationonafieldvisittoRajasthanwithFICCItostudyoliveanddatepalm
farming.Hecanbecontactedatashish.m@ians.in)
IANS
am/vm/sac/ky/rn

http://www.businessstandard.com/article/printerfriendlyversion?article_id=116102800446_1

2/2