Low prices for mango orchards, farmers wary

Visakhapatnam: Mango cultivators in the region are exercising caution and will wait for another two to three months for the orchards to bloom before handing them over to traders on lease .

Though hard pressed for cash and short on money to invest in the orchards, the severe crop failure last year coupled with a dry July and August this year has ensured that many traders have not come forward to take orchards on lease.

Further, traders who did show an interest were keen on striking a bargain and getting orchards on lease at a cheap price. Farmers usually hand over the orchards to traders in June-July.

K Latcha Reddy, a major player in the Tuni wholesale market said, “the big traders usually take orchards on lease for a three year period. However, small traders take orchards on lease for just one year. Many of them were looking forward to making a big profit in 2020 by taking the gardens at throwaway prices from farmers this year.”

Many farmers, however, did not give in to the pressure. Ch Appala Naidu, a farmer from Uratla mandal in Visakhapatnam district said, “I own a small two-acre-garden. The price offered this year was virtually one-third of the price offered last year. In such a scenario, I thought it would be prudent to wait till blooming starts. If the garden is in full bloom, I can demand a proper price and traders won’t be able to cheat me.”

District horticulture officials pointed out that farmers would get a better deal from traders if they wait till the end of January for the fruit to set. K Anuradha, assistant director, horticulture department, Narsipatnam said, “If the farmers can wait till the end of January 2020, they can stand up to the traders and demand a good price. The fruit-setting stage is the right time to give the garden on lease as there will be evidence of fruit on trees.”