Vijayawada loses horticulture lands

Vijayawada: The city is losing large tracks of lands meant for vegetable cultivation in the surrounding areas due to increasing urbanisation and construction activities.

Especially, the surrounding villages in east and south directions of the city within the limits of Krishna and Guntur districts are witnessing such activities on a large scale. But the department of horticulture remains indifferent.

Even several centrally sponsored schemes like Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for encouraging vegetables cultivation in the surroundings of the city are not been taken up.

Actually, the city lost some bunch of vegetable cultivation lands from Amaravati capital city development from the Prakasam Barrage to Tulluru in Guntur district. In this particular stretch, six villages, which are famous for cultivating vegetables, may become concrete jungles.

On the other hand, areas like Tadepalli, Kunchanapalli, Praturu, Vaddeswaram, Ippatam, Kolanukonda, Chinavadlapudi, Mellampudi and Gundimeda villages in Guntur district are also most suitable for vegetable cultivation.

All the villages are nearer to the capital city Amaravati and they are outskirts villages in Vijayawada city in south direction. But now, the entire stretch of villages is choice of builders and well noted infrastructure companies for their future projects.

Already, the new housing projects, including villas are under construction in the villages. Actually, the villages are famous for coriander, curry leaves, spinach, Chinese spinach, amaranthus, sorrel leaves, fenugreek leaves, turmeric, banana and pulses, along with vegetable cultivation.

Especially, Kunchanapalli village is most popular for coriander and curry leaves. But now, the lands in the village are being transformed into a residential zone with rampant construction activity. The land prices shot up to Rs 20 crore per acre. Since then, the lands are being converted for the construction activity instead of vegetable cultivation.

Besides, the lands in several surrounding villages of Yanamalakuduru, Kanuru, Tadigadapa, Poranki, Penamaluru, Madduru, Vanukuru, Kankipadu, Punadipadu, Valluripalem and Thotlavalluru are also suitable for vegetable cultivation. But now, all the villages are transforming into towns with rapid urbanisation. The farming community used to cultivate vegetables and supply vegetables to Vijayawada city.

Vemuri Mallikarjuna Rao, a model farmer, speaking to The Hans India on Sunday, said that still the farmers are supplying vegetables to the city. But the percentage of cultivation has declined up to 90 per cent.

Alla Venkatappa Reddy, a farmer of Mellampudi village said the lands were getting appreciation value wise due to urbanisation. The government should encourage vegetable cultivation at least some particular stretches around the city outskirts, he opined.

By Patibandla Srinivas