Farmers in Rajasthan's key citrus-growing districts are looking anxiously at the sky, praying for a sharp and sustained dip in the mercury. Their fortunes, tied to the popular kinnow fruit, hinge on a simple natural phenomenon: intense cold weather. Despite anticipating a quantitatively larger harvest this season, growers in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh are staring at financial losses due to disappointingly low wholesale prices, a direct result of an unseasonably warm December that has robbed the fruit of its characteristic sweetness.
The Crucial Link Between Cold and Sweetness
The core of the problem lies in agronomy. Kinnow, a hybrid of mandarin and orange, requires a prolonged period of cold temperatures to develop its optimal sugar content and flavour profile. Farmers and experts state that the fruit needs minimum temperatures at or below 6 degrees Celsius for a natural boost in sweetness. This year, however, the typical winter chill has been conspicuously absent during the crucial ripening phase.
Santok Singh, a farmer from Mirzawala village in Sriganganagar, explained the stark contrast. "Usually, by early December, our districts record minimums below 6°C. This season, the average minimum has stubbornly stayed between 9 and 10°C," he said. The direct consequence is a harvest that is "more sour than sweet," forcing farmers to sell at a severe loss. Wholesale prices have crashed to a mere Rs 7 to Rs 10 per kilogram, making the cultivation unviable for many.
A Bumper Harvest Overshadowed by Poor Quality
Ironically, the production numbers tell a story of abundance. According to the state's horticulture department, Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh together produced nearly 5 lakh metric tonnes of kinnow in 2024. The output for the current season is projected to be even higher, at an estimated 5.2 lakh metric tonnes. Yet, this robust production is failing to translate into better incomes.
The lack of intense cold has led to diminished fruit quality, which in turn has created weak demand in the markets. Buyers are reluctant to pay premium prices for kinnow that lacks the desired sweetness, suppressing the entire price curve. "We are compelled to sell at a loss," reiterated Santok Singh, capturing the widespread despair. Without an immediate cold wave to trigger the necessary biochemical changes in the fruit, farmers fear significant financial setbacks, turning a potential boom into a bust.
Farmers Play a Waiting Game with Nature
In a desperate bid to salvage their crop, many growers have adopted a strategy of delay. Hoping for colder nights in the coming weeks, they are postponing the harvest. Amreek Singh, a farmer from Hindumalkot village, stated, "We are not harvesting kinnow until the first week of January, by which time we expect weather conditions to change in our favour." This wait, however, is fraught with uncertainty and risk, as over-ripening or other weather anomalies could further damage the crop.
The collective hope now rests on a sudden and sustained drop in temperature. Subash Sehgwal, another kinnow cultivator from Sriganganagar, voiced this urgent need: "We are desperately awaiting a fall in temperatures in the coming days, which will help increase both the size and sweetness of the fruit." For the state's kinnow farmers, the equation is simple. All that stands between them and bumper returns is a prolonged spell of cold weather. The next few weeks will be critical in determining whether their prayers to the weather gods will be answered.
