Why Hawthorn farming is green gold for farmers?

Hawthorn, also known as cactus, is a thorny plant, but some of its varieties are also thornless. It can be used to feed animals. Research has also been done in this regard. It has been seen in research that animals eat it easily and there is no problem in digestion. Not only this, by feeding it to animals during summer, they can be saved from heat and dehydration. Along with this, hawthorn is also used to make many other products, that is, farmers can earn profit by cultivating hawthorn as raw material as well. 

Thornless species of hawthorn 

Generally, cactus is considered as a useless plant, but farmers can earn well from this plant. Many countries have understood the importance of this plant and are also earning good profits from hawthorn cultivation. In Mexico, cactus is being used as a biofuel, while in Vietnam, cactus oil is being used. China produces cactus for natural dyes, while now farmers in India are also doing it for making medicine and animal feed. Its thornless species can be commercially cultivated. Opuntia ficus-indica, also known as Cactus Pear and Indian Fig, are popular varieties. These species of cactus do not have thorns and their cultivation requires very little water. That’s why it can be cultivated well even on the barren land of the desert.

Uses of hawthorn 

Green fodder is the best option for animals in summer, along with this it is also used in many other things, such as making juice, marmalade, candy, leather, medicines, fuel, oil, shampoo, soap and lotion etc. It is also used in such a situation, farmers can earn good profit by cultivating hawthorn on a large scale. Apart from this, cactus can also be grown as an intercrop and can also be planted on ridges for fencing fields. Not only this, now leather is also being made from cactus and it is considered safe for the environment.

How to cultivate hawthorn? 

Hawthorn is cultivated during the rainy season (June-July to November). It is sown by cladode (a broad part of the stem). By breaking the cladode from the stem, 10.15 cm on the side of the ridge at a distance of one meter. Dig a pit and bury it directly in the ground. If the moisture is less then apply irrigation, otherwise it is not required. It grows easily even in saline soil. Its plants are ready in 5-6 months. When the plant becomes one meter high, it should be harvested, after cutting its stems grow again.

Many researches regarding hawthorn cultivation have proved that the problem of green fodder for animals can be solved by growing thornless variety of hawthorn in areas where there is scarcity of water or very less rainfall. This will benefit the farmers associated with the dairy industry. Government agencies are doing the work of spreading awareness in this regard and motivating the farmers for thornless cultivation of Hawthorn.

Also Read: Improved variety selected for chickpea cultivation

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