Mass Support for Malta
A citizens’ initiative supporting Malta-growing farmers
Sanjiv Kandwal
Uttarakhand has long struggled with outmigration, and since the formation of the state in 2000, nearly 1,700 villages have become “ghost villages”- emptied of residents. One key reason is the collapse of economic activity in the hill regions. To counter this, Dhaad, a prominent socio-cultural organisation, is working to strengthen rural livelihoods through agriculture and horticulture. Central to this effort is the promotion of malta, a citrus fruit that grows abundantly across the mountains. Despite receiving no government or institutional funding, the organisation’s early outcomes are inspiring.
Uttarakhand has a long tradition of cultivating citrus fruits, with malta being the most prominent. According to the Horticulture Department, the state produces an annual average of 36,911.96 metric tonnes of citrus fruits - among the highest of any fruit category. Malta grows in almost every village; many trees continue to bear fruit even where families who planted them have already migrated. Despite its abundance, malta has never had a reliable market structure, leaving farmers without fair prices. Amar Singh Bisht, a grower from Dwarikhal in Pauri, says malta thrives naturally in the mountain climate but lacks market linkages. He believes the government should procure malta the way it supports apple growers.
Last season, the Uttarakhand Horticulture Department declared a support price of Rs 10 per kg for C-grade malta, but an effective procurement mechanism is still missing. The minimum support price for the current season is yet to be announced. Deputy Director of Horticulture, Yogendra Yadav, explains that A- and B-grade malta sells easily in the market, so the government declares MSP only for C-grade fruit. This year’s support price is under finalisation.
To bridge this gap, Dhaad began procuring malta directly from farmers and supplying it to consumers in Dehradun. Since 2023-24, the organisation has run its annual winter campaign, Malta Mahina. Through its cooperative society, Dhaad buys malta from hill farmers and brings it to the urban market. In the first year, 15 quintals were purchased at Rs 30 per kg and sold at Rs 50 per kg.
This year, A-grade malta is priced at Rs 60 per kg and B-grade at Rs 50 per kg. According to campaign coordinator Harish Dobriyal, last year’s daily demand of two quintals has already risen to ten quintals. In the first week alone, Dhaad supplied two tonnes of malta. Mobile vans, home delivery and student-run stalls are being used to expand reach, while bulk purchases are also being promoted.
Coordinator Devendra Negi notes that while apple and kiwi cultivation requires technical training, citrus and stone fruits such as peach, plum and apricot grow naturally in the hills. Last season, Dhaad’s efforts generated malta sales worth up to Rs 3 lakh, providing many farmers with income from the crop for the first time.
Dhaad has also expanded into stone fruits, which ripen in May-June during the peak pilgrimage and tourist season. Farmers around Nainbagh are increasingly adopting these crops, f inding ready buyers in Mussoorie. To support this potential, Dhaad established the Funchi Cooperative in 2024 to market produce from the Harela villages. Within just two years, the cooperative’s turnover has reached Rs 5 lakh.
RNI No: DELBIL/2024/86754 Email: [email protected]
