Preference for Papaya proving to be a money-spinner

Vijayawada: Papaya, specifically Taiwan red lady variety, is proving to be to be a money spinner for farmers in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. Farmers who were growing mangoes in vast areas in Agiripalli, Adavinekkalam, Nunna, Madalavarigudem were incurring losses and opted for Papaya as an alternative to compensate for the declining returns.

Papaya is being grown in around 100 acres in different parts of the district. The farmers procured Taiwan red lady hybrid seed from Bangalore and sowed 1000 seeds per acre using drip irrigation. According to Bonthu Srinivasa Reddy of Nunna

Most of the farmers have replaced Mangoes with Papaya. He had chosen Papaya since it was fetching good revenues for farmers. “I had incurred a loss in mango cultivation and opted for Papaya in my two acre land by following the example of those who were cultivating the crop at Adavinekkalam Madalavarigudem and Nunna area. I invested around Rs.1 lakh per acre” he said.

Once planted, the crop is kept for two years and the tree begins to yield fruit from the eighth month, he explained. Srinivasa Reddy has planted 2000 saplings in two acres. According to him, on a conservative estimate, the weight of the Papaya is 3 kg to 5 kg and it would come for cutting within two months. Srinivasa Reddy further informed that he uses only Vermicompost and complex fertilizer.

Expressing dismay over the lack of support from Horticulture department and the government for Papaya farmers, he said that none of the officials have visited his farm or clarified his doubts on pests. All the farmers in upland areas of the district If the government encourages them with subsidies and scientists’ support, he added.

By Dasari Srinivasa Rao