Fields once dominated by wheat and sugarcane across the Paonta Sahib belt of Sirmaur district are steadily turning red with strawberries, as hundreds of farmers embrace the lucrative cash crop that is rapidly transforming the rural economy of the region.
Nearly 400 farmers from Dhaula Kuan, Paonta Sahib, Surajpur, Puruwala, Majra, Behral and some other villages cultivated strawberries over around 500 bighas of land during the current season. The crop has reportedly generated business worth nearly Rs 3.5 crore this year, underlining its growing popularity among farmers seeking better returns from limited agricultural land.
The climatic conditions of the lower Sirmaur region are considered highly suitable for strawberry cultivation, encouraging farmers to expand production every year. Strawberry saplings are planted in November, while harvesting begins after a few months. Farmers said the crop fetched premium prices at the beginning of the season, with rates ranging between Rs 200 and Rs 300 per kilogram.
However, with rising temperatures in recent weeks, growers are now facing fresh challenges. Farmers said the fruit size has started shrinking due to increasing heat, while excessive sunlight is also causing ripened berries to rot quickly in the fields.
Local farmer Nek Ram said strawberry farming has become far more profitable compared to conventional crops. “On an average, farmers are earning over Rs 1 lakh per bigha from strawberries,” he said. Another grower, Balveer Chaudhary, noted that traditional crops no longer offer comparable returns. Wheat cultivation generates barely around Rs 5,000 per bigha, while sugarcane takes nearly a year to provide an average income of about Rs 1 lakh per bigha.
The sharp difference in profitability is pushing more cultivators towards cash crops and horticulture-based farming. Agriculture experts believe that if adequate cold storage, transportation and marketing facilities are developed, the Paonta Sahib region could emerge as one of Himachal Pradesh’s major strawberry-producing hubs in the coming years.
