Vijayapura district’s lemon saplings, particularly the Kagzi variety, are experiencing a surge in demand following their receipt of a Geographical Indication (GI) tag three years ago. This designation has significantly boosted the profile of the Vijayapura lemon, driving interest from beyond Karnataka.
This year alone, farmers from Vijayapura have sold approximately five lakh lemon saplings, as reported by officials from the Horticulture Department. Vijayapura stands as the largest lemon-producing district in Karnataka, with over 50% of the production coming from Indi taluk.
Previously, the primary buyers of these saplings were local farmers from districts such as Kalaburagi, Bagalkot, Raichur, Dharwad, and Belagavi. However, the GI tag has attracted buyers from neighboring states. Farmers from Maharashtra’s Solapur, Pandharpur, and Usmanabad, as well as regions in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, are now flocking to Vijayapura’s nurseries to procure the saplings.
The increased demand has led many local farmers, particularly those from Indi taluk, to dedicate a significant portion of their land to lemon nurseries. The saplings are priced at Rs 13 for one-year-olds, Rs 25 for two-year-olds, and Rs 100 for larger saplings.
Rahul Bhavidoddi, Deputy Director of Horticulture, highlighted that the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Indi regularly conducts workshops and awareness programs to educate farmers on growing and marketing lemon saplings effectively. This support aims to ensure that the district’s lemon cultivation continues to thrive and meet the growing demand.
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