Farmers asked to avoid carbide for ripening of mangoes

Kakinada: The horticulture department of East Godavari appealed to farmers not to opt carbide for artificial ripening of mangoes in the present season and warned it is very harmful to the consumers.

Instead, the farmers and traders can use ethylene chambers being arranged by horticulture department at subsidised price, said deputy director of the department S Ram Mohan.

These chambers with two to three metric tons capacity are being made available to mango farmers at subsidised price, the DD said. The ethylene chamber costing Rs 2,200 will be arranged at Rs 1,100 with 50 per cent subsidy on cost. The farmers have to keep the fruit for ripening for two to three days, Ram Mohan added.