Does Ulavapadu Banginapalli loosing its flavour?
ONGOLE: Mango is cultivated in only two mandals, Ulavapadu and Gudlur, in Prakasam district. Ulavapadu Banginapalli is one of the most famous varieties in the State and is equal to Nuzvid mangoes in sweetness.
Farmers cultivate mango in 6,966 hectares in these two mandals and according to the horticulture department, they produce 40492 metric tonnes of yield per annum.
Usually, Chennai traders purchase the bulk of Ulavapadu mangoes. These traders used to purchase mangoes even before they were plucked from trees! They export the mangoes to Dubai and other countries in West Asia.
But for the farmers, profits are still nominal. Vexed with the increasing prices of pesticides and urea, some have given their mango orchards on lease.
Ulavapadu farmer G Malla Reddy said there was no storage facility in the mandal, which makes it difficult for them to export the mangoes. The absence of processing units too is a dampener for the farmers. He opined that mango juice factory or pulp processing units will benefit farmers.
AP Rythu Sangham district secretary, N Ranga Rao too said they ran from post to pillar asking the government to start a mango juice factory or pulp processing units but in vain.
He feared that farmers will shun mango cultivation in future if poor prices continue and demanded that the government initiate action to save Ulavapadu mangoes.
The usage of calcium carbide to ripen mangoes quickly has also boomeranged as consumers have shown little interest in such fruits and consequently, prices have come down.
Horticulture assistant director P Jennamma said that the department was encouraging farmers to ripen mangoes without the use of calcium carbide to get a better price.
Last year, such good mangoes fetched Rs 60,000 per tonne as against Rs 35000 for the artificially harvested ones. She said they were planning mango melas in Hyderabad and other cities in the State to promote farm fresh Ulavapadu mangoes.
News Posted: 22 April, 2013
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