Dang/Gandhinagar, May 20 (IANS) Dang district has emerged as Gujarat’s leading strawberry-producing region, with cultivation expanding steadily under the state’s natural farming initiative and farmers reporting annual earnings of up to Rs eight lakh per hectare from the crop.

According to official figures, the area under strawberry cultivation in the district has increased from 20 hectares in 2022-23 to around 33 hectares in 2025-26.

Production, which stood at 140 metric tonnes in 2022-23, rose to 196 metric tonnes in 2024-25 and is projected to reach 233 metric tonnes during 2025-26.

The state government said the growth has been driven by favourable climatic conditions, increasing market demand and the adoption of natural farming practices in the tribal district.

“Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Dang was declared the country’s first natural farming district, leading to wider adoption of chemical-free cultivation methods among local farmers,” officials noted.

Officials said strawberries are well-suited to the district’s cool climate and organic-rich sandy and loamy soil.

The crop requires well-drained soil with a pH level between 5.5 and 7.0, along with 8 to 12 hours of sunlight for flowering and fruit development.

Temperatures between 22 degrees and 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 7 to 13 degrees Celsius at night are considered ideal for cultivation.

Farmers in the district are cultivating nine strawberry varieties, including Winter Dawn, Early Winter, Camarosa, Sweet Charlie, Nabila, Nabadi, Selva, Belrubi and Pajero.

Among these, Winter Dawn has emerged as the most preferred variety because of its strong yield between December and February-March.

Large-scale strawberry cultivation has developed across several villages in Ahwa taluka, including Bhurapani, Borigavtha, Galkund, Kotamdar, Malegaon, Dabhas, Sonuniya and Vanar.

In Waghai taluka, cultivation has expanded in Kanchanpada, Ghodvahal, Murambi and nearby villages.

The state government’s horticulture department has organised training camps and educational visits to encourage natural farming and modern cultivation methods.

Farmers are also receiving subsidies ranging from 55 to 75 per cent on strawberry saplings and cultivation-related expenses.

Assistance is being provided for mulching material, plastic covers, crates, packing material and farm equipment such as mini tractors, rotavators, cultivators and trolleys.

Officials said many farmers who earlier depended on labour work in industrial areas and farms in neighbouring Maharashtra have shifted to strawberry cultivation.

Traditional crops such as paddy, nagli, urad and varai earlier generated limited income, but strawberry farming is now providing farmers with annual earnings of around Rs seven lakh to Rs eight lakh per hectare.

Initially sold mainly in local markets in Saputara and Ahwa, strawberries grown in Dang are now being supplied to larger markets in Ahmedabad, Surat and Bharuch.

Officials added that the expansion of cultivation has also created seasonal employment opportunities for local residents.

–IANS

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