Apple Ber farming picks up

Nellore: Upland mandals and fallow lands located in the district are gradually turning into plantations for ‘Apple Ber’, a Thailand variety, which is also known as ‘Indian Jujube’ or ‘Chinese Date’. Earlier, the local traders used to say that they were importing the tasty fruit from Kolkata and Bengaluru.

But the crop, within in one year, has proved that the local traders were selling them by saying that the imported varieties were being cultivated in the district. Now, pushcarts in Nellore, Kavali, Gudur and many parts of the district are witnessing the sale of green fruits, resembling the ‘Green Apple’ in taste and texture. But, they are being cultivated in many mandals with the support of the Horticulture department.

In fact, Apple Ber is a Thailand variety fruit and its taste is sweet and also a bit sour, weighing around 150-200 gm which appears to be like green Apple. Traders say that’s why it is named as ‘Apple Ber’. “We have planted the variety brought from Hyderabad in February, last year on 15 acres of land at Mungamuru crossroad and now it has given a good yield within 8-10 months.

We sold them even for Rs 50 per kg directly to the customers,” said Y Ramachandraiah, a progressive farmer. The plant starts giving fruits after 6-8 months of plantation. About 450 to 500 plants can be grown on an acre and it gives fruits twice a year. The fruits, apart from its taste and texture, has rich medicinal values which is also known to contain 18 of the 24 essential amino acids that the body needs. 

It is full of anti-oxidants known for preventing cancer. Recent experiments proved that it was especially effective in preventing leukaemia, the most violent form of cancer. “People suffering from obesity, diabetics, gastric and digestive problems can enjoy the fruit without any hesitation.

It has no carbohydrates or fats and are abundant in fibre which makes them highly nutritional while not adding to weight when eaten as snack. It is also rich in calcium, the basic mineral that constitutes the teeth, bones and muscles.

A great breakthrough in the field of Alzheimer as the fruit containing good medicinal values if further studies confirm this where it can be used in for treating the disease,” said N Mahesh, a Chennai based expert in nutrition, while speaking to The Hans India here on Monday.  

By P V Prasad