Cultivating a success story

Kanekal(Anantapur): Rayalaseema’s hot and arid climate goes against the very tenet of strawberry cultivation, the fruit only grows in cold climate. Yet, a farmer in Kanekal Mandal in Anantapur district has taken up the challenge and proved everyone wrong by cultivating strawberry using innovative techniques.

• Farmer grows strawberries in arid climate of Rayalaseema
• Realises investment even though half of the crop withered
• Appeals to the government to extend subsidies to promote cultivation in a big way

Bhimavaram Nagireddy, a native of Ambapuram village in Kanekal Mandal in the district had visited Mahabalipuram in Maharashtra in the recent past and was amazed at the quality of strawberry plantations. Despite being discouraged by farmers that a hot and desert like district cannot produce cold climate fruit, he purchased strawberry plants at Rs 4.50 per plant and tried plantation in 40 cents of land.

Even though half of the plants withered due to the exceptionally high temperatures, some produced fruit, which was said to rich in texture and sweet to the palate. The farmer feels that if the temperature would have been in between 38 to 40-degree centigrade, more crops would have survived. He also felt that he should have raised them in protected environment.

The success story of Nagireddy lies in the fact that he has realised his investment of Rs.1.50 lakh by selling the produce in the local market at five per cent lower than the market price. Interacting with The Hans India, a visibly-elated Nagireddy said that his project was a grand success. “I am motivated and will go for cultivation on a bigger scale in a protected environment,” he informed.

He revealed that of the 12,000 plants, only 6,000 survived. Usually, the fruit is grown in hill stations, where the average temperatures range in between 18-25 degrees centigrade. Speaking about health benefits of the fruit, Nagireddy says that regular consumption of strawberries helps in removing harmful chemicals and toxins from the blood.

“They are also a rich source of folic acid and help cure a sluggish liver and to prevent/reduce birth defects involving the brain,” he added. The fruit has great demand in both national and international market and Nagireddy is appealing the government and the department of horticulture to extend all subsidies applicable to promote its cultivation in a big way.