In Fatehpur Billoch village of Faridabad district, Haryana, farmer Lalit Mohan Saini has successfully transformed his agricultural practices to escape the recurring financial losses caused by unpredictable weather. Previously, he cultivated traditional crops such as paddy, wheat, and seasonal vegetables. However, fluctuating weather conditions frequently damaged his yields. Torrential rainfall in some years, drought in others, and sudden hailstorms often destroyed standing crops, leaving him with mounting losses and uncertain income. To solve this problem, he shifted focus toward commercial horticulture and fruit farming.
Overcoming the Risks of Traditional Agriculture
Explaining his decision to change course, Lalit Mohan Saini noted that traditional wheat and paddy farming offer low profit margins while exposing farmers to extreme climate risks. Believing that traditional farming was putting growers under financial distress, he sought a more sustainable alternative that could deliver consistent earnings. He decided to introduce variety into his fields by establishing an ornamental plant nursery alongside fruit trees. His goal was to generate higher profit margins while creating stable working opportunities for local agricultural laborers.
Establishing a Kinnow Orchard on 1.5 Acres
As part of his fruit cultivation strategy, Lalit Mohan dedicated 1.5 acres of his land to planting kinnow trees. He procured a high-quality sapling variety from Bengaluru four years ago, investing approximately Rs 200 per sapling initially. After four years of careful management, the orchard has matured and is yielding substantial harvests. Today, a single mature tree in his orchard produces nearly one quintal (100 kilograms) of kinnow fruit during the harvesting season.
Low Maintenance Costs and Strong Market Demand
One major advantage of kinnow farming is its resilience against severe pest attacks compared to conventional field crops. The crop requires minimal maintenance beyond periodic protective spraying, keeping overall input costs low. In local wholesale markets, kinnow fetches a steady price ranging between Rs 30 and Rs 35 per kilogram. Demand remains consistently high because juice vendors extensively mix kinnow fruit with sweet lime (mosambi) to prepare fresh juice.
Diverse Horticultural Model Delivers Sustainable Earnings
By combining commercial ornamental plant nursery operations with high-yield kinnow production, Lalit Mohan now generates net earnings amounting to lakhs of rupees per season. His experience demonstrates that diversifying away from climate-vulnerable staple crops into high-value horticultural products can protect agricultural livelihoods and create a profitable farming model.
