Farmers of Karnal district's Taraori area have benefited immensely from diversification of their crops from the traditional wheat-rice rotation to vegetable cultivation by adopting the "bawar technique". | |
| A spokesman of the horticulture department said here that the bawar technique had been developed by Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, on the pattern of grape cultivation. |
| |
| Explaining the technique, he said after preparing the fields, a net of wires were laid on pieces of bamboos and then plants were spread over these wires. The technique has led to a substantial increase in the production of bitter gourd apart from helping farmers keep their crops free from insects, he said. |
| |
| The crop sown over an area of one acre could fetch a farmer upto Rs 50,000 excluding the expenditure incurred on its cultivation. Vegetables were cultivated in an area of over 3,000 hectares. |
| |
| Apart from this, fruit cultivation was also done over 145 hectares and spices such as turmeric and coriander over an area of 50 hectares. |
| |
| The spokesman said bitter gourd was popular not only in India, but also in China, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. Bitter gourd, popularly known as 'karela' in the country, is a seasonal vegetable and a rich source of phosphorous. Being a cash crop, the cultivation of the vegetable ensures prompt payment. |
| |
| To encourage farmers to adopt diversified crop activities, the horticulture department in Karnal district had sent a proposal to the national horticulture mission for providing subsidy to farmers to adopt horticultural activities. |
| |
|
| |
