PINEAPPLES FROM SEETHAMPETA, SRIKAKULAM DIST
PINEAPPLES FROM SEETHAMPETA, SRIKAKULAM DIST
The well known local variety of pineapple”Simhachalam” which is very sweet with juicy pulp and gold colour is grown in about 15000 acres in Savara tribal pockets of Palkonda and Seethampeta mandals.
The quality of fruit in this area is very good due to traditional organic cultivation practices of tribals. The soils are very rich with good amount of organic matter. These pineapples contain more vitamins and protein when compare to the same fruit grown in commercial Agriculture areas.
Despite the presence of ITDA, Horti Dept, Velugu, ZBNF, number of FPOs there is hardly any aggregation and marketing support, forget about value addition and storage systems. Local sandies with all sorts of exploitative methods is the only marketing venue for these poor tribals,
Like the fate of most of agri commodities, the pineapple rates are Rs 6 to 8/ piece weighing around 1 to 1.5 kgs as against last year rates of Rs 14 to 18. This is the real pathetic situation and farmers are not even getting cost of cultivation and put to direct loss.
Dist administration is trying sell some quantities in Srikakulam farmers markets through NGOs but it’s very insignificant effort.
I personally took interest and trying to reach out to upcountry markets through NCDEX e markets team and we are yet start the actual operations. Meanwhile I also sent staff from known FPOs to Vijayawada and other coastal markets and trying to get better realisations for the tribals.
If any of you have better ideas and connectivity to markets please do contact me. Let us crack these issues through networking and real-time actions.
Regards
BG Reddy - 9866889246
The well known local variety of pineapple”Simhachalam” which is very sweet with juicy pulp and gold colour is grown in about 15000 acres in Savara tribal pockets of Palkonda and Seethampeta mandals.
The quality of fruit in this area is very good due to traditional organic cultivation practices of tribals. The soils are very rich with good amount of organic matter. These pineapples contain more vitamins and protein when compare to the same fruit grown in commercial Agriculture areas.
Despite the presence of ITDA, Horti Dept, Velugu, ZBNF, number of FPOs there is hardly any aggregation and marketing support, forget about value addition and storage systems. Local sandies with all sorts of exploitative methods is the only marketing venue for these poor tribals,
Like the fate of most of agri commodities, the pineapple rates are Rs 6 to 8/ piece weighing around 1 to 1.5 kgs as against last year rates of Rs 14 to 18. This is the real pathetic situation and farmers are not even getting cost of cultivation and put to direct loss.
Dist administration is trying sell some quantities in Srikakulam farmers markets through NGOs but it’s very insignificant effort.
I personally took interest and trying to reach out to upcountry markets through NCDEX e markets team and we are yet start the actual operations. Meanwhile I also sent staff from known FPOs to Vijayawada and other coastal markets and trying to get better realisations for the tribals.
If any of you have better ideas and connectivity to markets please do contact me. Let us crack these issues through networking and real-time actions.
Regards
BG Reddy - 9866889246
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