KIWI

Kiwi is also known as “Chinese Gooseberry”. It is a rich source of Vitamin B and C and also minerals such as calcium, potassium and phosphorus. Kiwi fruits are eaten as such or can be served in the form of deserts or salads. It is also used for making vines and squashes. In India it is mainly grown in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Kerala and Meghalaya.

In Uttarakhand, Nainital, Almora, Bageshwar and Champawat districts are major kiwi producing areas.

It is grown in variety of soils but sandy loam soil having good drainage system is good for kiwi farming. A soil having pH slightly less than 6.9 are best for obtaining maximum yield. Avoid farming in heavy wet soils as it will affect the growth of plant. 

Hayward: They have broad and flat fruit. The variety requires more chilling hours.  

Shelter preparation: As wind is the major limiting factor, kiwi fruit requires shelter for its good growth. To protect crop from wind kiwi requires shelter. 

Time of sowing:

Kiwi is propagated by vegetative method i.e. cutting, budding and grafting method.

Training is mainly done to give proper support to the plant. In the first season, support the main branch of the seedling with stake. In the second season, encourage the growth of the first two arms also known as cordons opposite to each other and tie it with the wires. And then in the next year training of the lateral shoots is done perpendicular to the cordons. Pruning is done in third year, so as to leave 15-20 lateral canes across the cordons of the vine. In the fourth year, the structure of the kiwi vine is all set. Alwase carry pruning in dormant season.

A basal dose of FYM@50kg and NPK mixture @0.5kg containing 15% N is applied every year. After 5 years, Nitrogen@850-950gm, Phosphorus@500-600gm and Potash@800-900gm are applied each year.

The fertilizer dose of urea is applied in two equal splits i.e. half to two third dose is given in January to February month and rest of the dose is given in April to May month after fruit set. The nutrient dose is given 20-30cm deep and 30cm wide trenching.

 

Inter-cultural operations are effective for the removal of weeds. Mulching is best to prevent crop from wind attacked. 

During initial five years, intercropping with vegetables or leguminous crops is done as it is beneficial for crop growth. 

• Pest and their control:

Leaf roller caterpillar: It is a group of caterpillar which ties leaves around themselves with the help of silken threads and destroy by feeding themselves on fresh leaves. 

• Disease and their control:

Botrytis fruit rot: It is also known as gray mould. The disease causes shriveling of fruits and gray color growth is seen at the stem end. The disease is mainly caused in rainy or in high humidity weather.

Crown gall: It is a bacterial disease which gets enter through wounded areas on the plant. 

Bleeding canker: The symptoms are rusty cankers seen on the branches of the plant.

Bacterial blight: The signs are yellowish petals and brown sunken spots are seen on the petals. The disease enters the plant through wounded areas.

Kiwi starts bearing fruits at the age of 4-5 years and commercial production of fruit starts at the age of 7-8 years. Harvesting is done in the month of October to December. Harvesting of hard fruits is done for long distance transportation. As hard fruits become soft in two weeks and becomes edible for eating.

After harvesting, grading is done according to the weights. After grading kiwis are kept in the refrigerators. They have good keeping quality and can be stored for 8weeks. Then packing of fruits is done for sale purpose and for long distance transportation.