Bathinda, Aug. 24 -- A group of progressive farmers from Abohar in Fazilka district are elated over their maiden harvest of dates, raising hopes for the potential of cultivating the "desert fruit" in Punjab's semi-arid region.

Experts and orchardists in the state's horticulture hub are seeking direct state intervention, including subsidies and training, under the crop diversification plan.

Date palm saplings produced from tissue culture cost around Rs.5,000 each, and around 70 saplings are sown per acre.

Farmers said that the high cost of tissue culture saplings of tested date-palm varieties has emerged as the main roadblock to adopting the hardy crop.

Experts at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) said that the climate and sandy...