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Farmers feel let down over low returns
In East Godavari district, horticulture crops like mango, vegetables etc., were being taken up in more than 1.2 lakh hectares with Konaseema area (Amalapuram division) accounting for more than 50 per cent of the total.
Kakinada: The Horticulture department has been initiating several measures to protect mango crop from drastic climatic changes, in view of sharp decline in crop yield in the current season.
In East Godavari district, horticulture crops like mango, vegetables etc., were being taken up in more than 1.2 lakh hectares with Konaseema area (Amalapuram division) accounting for more than 50 per cent of the total.
The Horticulture department officials stated that the crop yield in the current year was affected due to drastic change in day/night temperatures and the failure of the farming community to maintain optimum moisture in the fields through drip irrigation.
In addition to this, fruit flies were also causing extensive damage to crops. The Horticulture department officials found that the effective use of biofertilisers and biopesticides prevents pests’ attacks. The wide publicity given by media over health issues in consuming artificially ripened fruits also dealt a fatal blow to farmers.
A mango farmer Pulla Dorababu of Sarpavaram in Kakinada Rural s said though it is the traders who use calcium carbide to hasten the ripening process, their greediness was costing them a lot. It may be mentioned here that consuming artificially ripened fruits would cause health problems like cancer, ulcer, insomnia and loss of appetite.
Horticulture assistant director D Srinivasulu said early detection and effective counter measures can save the crops from pest attacks. He said that the department has come to the succour of farmers by providing 35 per cent subsidy to set up natural ripening chambers. He said that one MT capacity chamber costs Rs 1 lakh and 10 MT chamber costs Rs 10 lakh.
He said that they have developed a technique of ripening mangoes with ethylene, which is cost-effective. “Under this method, the mango craters should be placed in a chamber and then ethylene gas would be released into it.
It would take 24 to 48 hours for mangoes to ripen under this method. Farmers can have easy access to ethylene as it was sold in the form of a powder at all fertiliser shops,”he said.
by:Anjaneyulu L
