El Nino Effect | El Nino conditions are having a severe impact on vegetable cultivation in the state. Due to lack of expected rains in normal months, vegetable cultivation is facing serious problems. As a result, the yield of vegetables has decreased and the prices have increased drastically.
El Nino Effect | Hyderabad, June 25 (Namaste Telangana): El Nino conditions are having a severe impact on vegetable cultivation in the state. Due to lack of expected rains in normal months, vegetable cultivation is facing serious problems. As a result, the yield of vegetables has decreased and the prices have increased drastically. Until recently, tomato, which was between Rs.30 and Rs.40 in the wholesale mart, is now coming from other states and costs Rs. It is priced from Rs.50 to Rs.60. Beans are sold at Rs.100 per kg in the farmer’s market, while they are sold at Rs.120 to Rs.150 in the retail mart. Chikudukaya Rs.70 to Rs. 80, while the outside mart is charging Rs.110. While Capsicum is priced at Rs.40 to Rs.60 per kg, it is currently fetching Rs.120 to Rs.160 in the market. Carrot also increased from Rs.30 to Rs.80.
Imports from other states
As the yield of vegetables has decreased in the state, they are being imported from other states such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. Farmers say that they are trying to keep the crops alive by spraying bore water like rain to the few crops cultivated by the farmers in the joint Medak, Nizamabad, Nalgonda, Rangareddy and Mahbubnagar districts. They complain that even the planted crops are not sprouting. Vegetables grown in the state, which was once around 5 lakh acres, will drop to 75,000 acres in 2025.
Prices are likely to rise further: Professor Dandarajireddy
Udyana University VC Professor Dr. Danda Rajireddy said that due to the El Nino conditions this year, the rains were not as expected. It is suggested to cultivate vegetables that grow in normal rains. He said that small and small farmers will not suffer a lot even if the yields are reduced due to El Nino. Cultivation of short-term crops such as greens and vegetables that can withstand water stress is recommended.
Vegetables are not coming from the districts
Earlier, the wholesale market used to get large quantities of vegetables from the surrounding districts. Presently, the supply of vegetables to the market has decreased due to lack of rains. Due to this, the prices have doubled as vegetables are coming from neighboring states. There are chances of more increase in the coming days. There is no situation to bring and sell all kinds of vegetables.
– Suganamma, a vegetable merchant
The tomato crop was damaged
Recently, tomato and chilli crops have been badly damaged by the sun. Three-quarters of the two-acre crop was damaged. As a result, the expected yields did not come in the summer. Work has started to cultivate tomato, chilli, okra and gourd in this season. At present I am cultivating greens like lettuce, asparagus, mint, coriander and fenugreek.
– Yacharam Rythu Ramulu
Measures to increase vegetable cultivation
In the current situation, we are taking measures to divert the farmers towards vegetable cultivation. We are equipping the farmers to increase vegetable cultivation in at least one lakh acres this year. We are making farmers aware of vegetable crops that can be cultivated with less water under El Nino conditions. It has been revealed that measures are already being taken to increase vegetable cultivation.
– Yasmin Basha, Director of Parks
