Date:30/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/30/stories/2008013050690200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Mango revolution set to take off

S. Harpal Singh

10,000 acres to be added this year as against 3,000 acre per-year-expansion of orchards

Reason to cheer: The full bloom on a road side mango tree on the Indervelli-Utnoor road in Adilabad district is an indication of a bumper mango harvest.

ADILABAD: Horticulture is yet to acquire a befitting status in Adilabad district though revolutionary developments were foreseen in the field since the turn of the century. Mango was to be the focus of all development programmes because of suitable soils, favourable climatic conditions and adequate rainfall obtaining here for plantations of the king of fruits.

“The potential still exists. We have not spared any effort towards giving a thrust for establishment of mango orchards. Against a 3,000 acre per year expansion of mango orchards, about 10,000 acres will be added this year. The yield at three tonnes per acre has given us a cause to be happy. It is the weak marketing system that leaves the farmer with only marginal profits and leaves us aghast”, lamented N.V. Ramana, Assistant Director, Horticulture.

Marketing

Marketing of mango is mostly done through advance sale. Even before the trees begin to flower, the produce is sold to bidders.

This method does not fetch good profits for the farmer.

“Value addition is the need of the hour. Farmers can clean the fruit, grade it and sell it after packaging. This will get much better returns to the farmer”, opined Mr. Ramana.

The Horticulture department offers a subsidy of 25 per cent on establishment of a packaging unit that costs Rs. 2.5 lakhs.

Another 25 per cent will come in the form of bank loan. None of the mango farmers has availed of this facility so far.

Besides, bio fertilisers and pesticides worth Rs. 30 lakh are just lying in the shelves of the seven distribution centres though a 50 per cent subsidy is extended on them. “Because of the indirect marketing system, the farmers do not consider it their obligation to use fertilisers or pesticides”, the assistant director pointed out.

There is some hope in the area as the department has plans of forging a mechanism with horticulture farming community of Baramati area in Maharashtra for marketing mango.

The farmers have over the years evolved a perfect system for marketing their produce that can be made use of by horticulture farmers in Adilabad.