Nalgonda: Mosambi ryots reap fruits of labour

Farmers are delighted that their sweet lime produce was being picked up at Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000 per ton, the highest rate they have ever got

Nalgonda: Taking Horticulture Department officials by surprise, sweet lime (Mosambi), a major produce of Nalgonda district, is commanding a better-than-expected price in the market, much to the relief of cultivators who, along with the officials, were apprehensive of getting a good price this year on account of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.

In fact, the farmers are delighted that their sweet lime produce was being picked up at Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000 per ton, the highest rate they have ever got.

The Horticulture Department officials had estimated that the price of sweet lime would be around Rs 35,000 per ton for the April-May cutting season (Hastha Bahar). But, thanks to the high demand, particularly in other States, the farmers were reaping the benefits and making good profits. Nalgonda sweet lime has a huge market in New Delhi, Kolkata and other northern States. This year, it is being sold at Rs 1.5 lakh per ton in Azadpur Mandi of New Delhi, the highest price in recent years. The Delhi price has pushed dealers to pick up sweet lime from cultivators in Nalgonda at Rs 45,000 to 50,000 per ton.

Of the 42,557 acres area under sweet lime cultivation in the district, mosambi yield was high in 31,917 acres. About 12,728 farmers are cultivating sweet lime in the district and 39,000 tons yield was expected during the April-May season, recording a turnover of about Rs 130.83 crores. The turnover expected to cross the Rs 150 crore mark this cutting season, which would immensely benefit sweet lime growers in the district.

Speaking to Telangana Today, K Ramesh, who has been cultivating mosambi in three acres at Mushampally village, said he sold his crop to the dealer at Rs 50,000 per ton. “I have been cultivating mosambi for the past five years, but never got such a high price,” he said, adding that for the five ton of mosambi yield this cutting season, he got Rs 2.5 lakh.

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