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Capsicum export demand revives hopes of farmers
Capsicum fruit originating from chilli family, which is in high demand in star hotels in India and also in Middle-East, US, Europe and South East Asian nations has caught the attention of progressive farmers in the district and are eyeing its vast export potential.
Garladinne(Anantapur): Capsicum fruit originating from chilli family, which is in high demand in star hotels in India and also in Middle-East, US, Europe and South East Asian nations has caught the attention of progressive farmers in the district and are eyeing its vast export potential.
Besides, the demand is growing even in domestic market for green capsicum and for red and yellow capsicum in international market. The green capsicum is now selling at Rs 25 per kilo in the local open market, while red and yellow fetch between Rs 60 and 80 in the export market.
Roughly about 50 farmers in the district have taken to capsicum farming on an experimental basis this year and many farmers who believe in innovation are adopting a ‘wait and see’ attitude to jump into the bandwagon while others are scared of the high volume of initial investment although the returns are promising.
Shiva Kumar a young B Tech graduate in computers hailing from an agriculture family ventured into capsicum farming in one acre of land at Garladinne. His investment in an acre of land is Rs 40 lakh. The department of horticulture gave him 50 per cent subsidy which is Rs 20 lakh and the remaining amount he availed through Canara Bank as loan.
He spent the amount on construction of a poly house, bedding, vermin compost and integration of red soil and on purchase of seeds and converting them into saplings through a nursery and planted them in multiple rows.
He constructed two poly houses in an extent of half an acre each. He took two months time to construct the poly houses and the saplings he planted are 45 days old and after completion of three months, the capsicums reach an adult stage and can be harvested from then onward till six months.
"This is a highly commercial crop and yields 60 tons by the time it reaches harvesting stage. A single crop fetches Rs 22 lakh. The fruit is purchased by both domestic and export dealers in Benguluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Vijayawada,” said Shiva Kumar while interacting with The Hans India.
Many farmers are waiting to see the outcome of my project so that they too could jump into the fray, he adds. Horticulture assistant director Ch Sathyanarayana stated that 50 farmers are engaged in capsicum farming from half acre to an acre each.
He stated that the farming can be taken up even under shade net nurseries bringing down the project cost per unit from Rs 40 to Rs 20 lakh. Subsidy of 50 per cent holds good for the scheme too.
Speaking on the health benefits and medicinal values of the fruit, he said they include relief from cancer, peptic ulcer, menopausal problems, low risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic properties and may also provide relief in pain related to arthritis. It also provides relief from fibromyalgia, skin aging and psoriasis. It provides nutritional value of high amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A.
