Thaindian News

Shimla, Sep 19 (IANS) The harvesting of Japani Phal, or the exotic, deep orange-red coloured and luscious persimmon, has picked up in the Rs.2,000 crore (Rs.20 billion) fruit industry of Himachal Pradesh.

Though persimmon production this year has been less than last year, farmers are upbeat and hope to get good prices.

Persimmon was introduced by European settlers in the early 20th century in certain pockets of the state. The harvesting of persimmon, which strikingly resembles tomatoes, has begun in Shimla, Kullu and Mandi districts, Director of Horticulture Gurdev Singh told IANS.

It would continue till the end of October, he said.

“An extended winter when the persimmon crop was in the blooming stage - a period when flowers start blossoming - and a fury of showers that followed when the crop was maturing, have affected its production,” Gurdev Singh said.

Official estimates say this year’s production would be around 200 tonnes - about 40 percent less than last year’s bumper production of 335 tonnes.

But farmers are not complaining, as the fruit’s prices are shooting up.

Unlike other fruit crops, the persimmon crop was not so badly hit by hostile weather as it is a comparatively hardy plant, said S.P. Bhardwaj, former joint director at the Solan-based Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry.

“Since the persimmon plant can tolerate harsh conditions, its production was not much hit like apples and cherries. The overall production of apples and cherries has dipped by over 60 percent in the state,” he said.

“The persimmon season started almost a week ago. By next fortnight, its harvesting will be in full peak,” said Gurmohinder Singh Kotia, a prominent grower in Seobagh village near here.

The price of Japani Phal, which literally means Japanese fruit, these days ranges between Rs.50 and Rs.60 per kg in Delhi’s Azadpur wholesale fruit market where vendors often sell it as imports from China and Japan.

The fruit is selling from Rs.100 to Rs.120 a kg in retail, traders said, adding in the beginning “persimmon prices are at a significant high due to its short supply”.

Kotia, who has been cultivating persimmon for more than four decades, said the craze for persimmon is picking up.

“Since the crop does not require any insecticide or fertiliser, it’s totally organic. Its demand is catching up mainly in the big cities. Moreover, it’s available in the market at a time when no seasonal fruit is available, except apples,” Kotia said.

The crop is quite fruitful in terms of money, he added. The trees start bearing fruit four to five years after planting. On an average, a full grown persimmon tree yields more than 200 kg of fruit a year.

Persimmon is quite delicious with a lot of sugary content. It contains vitamins A, B and C.

The temperate zones of Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba and Solan districts are ideal for persimmon cultivation. As per horticulture department estimates, more than 10,000 farmers grow the fruit over 420 hectares.

The fruit is also grown in Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Tamil Nadu.

Besides persimmon, fruits like apples, cherries, pears, peaches, apricots, kiwi, strawberries, olives, almonds and plums are the major commercial crops of Himachal Pradesh.

The economy of the hill state is highly dependent on horticulture as well as hydroelectric power and tourism.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)