Apple berry, boon for drought hit farmers

More and more farmers from across the State are taking up the new crop as it requires less water and yields good harvest

Mahbubnagar: The apple berry also known as Telangana apple is fast catching up among farmers of Warangal and Nalgonda districts. About 60 farmers from Nekkonda of Warangal and Miryalaguda of Nalgonda district visited the apple berry plantation at Gangapur on Saturday and enquired about the cultivation and irrigation methods for this drought overcoming crop.

Having learned about the unique fruit plantation through media, farmers are queuing up to take stock of apple berry plantation in the one hector farmland of Krishna Reddy at Gangapur village near Jadcherla. “We are getting 20 to 40 visitors every day to learn about this unique fruit plantation,” says Ram Singh, who takes care of the plantation.

Saidulu and Rajkumar, both farmers from Nekkonda mandal in Warangal district, came all the way, travelling 300 kilometers to Jadcherla to learn about the apple berry. “I came to know about the Telangana apple through television and newspapers.

I have come here to learn more about this plantation and its cultivation methods. I have 30 acres of land in Nekkonda and want to experiment the same in our area,” said Saidulu. These hybrid plants grow up to 4 to 5 feet tall and its branches spread about one to two metres radius.

They are preferred in dry areas where there is less water and the yield is amazingly great. “Initially we did the plantation on an experimental basis and in just about 8-9 months, the plants have grown and started yielding fruits.

To our surprise, we are getting an outstanding yield, every day we are packing about 60-100 boxes weighing 25 kilograms each. It cost us about Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per hectare and we are getting good returns for our investment,” said Krishna Reddy, the farm owner.

According to owners of the plantation, apple berry plants use very little water and can be easily cultivated using drip irrigation method. The Telangana apple yields twice a year. After the first yield, these plants need to be cut one feet above the stem and it takes 8-9 months to grow up to the yielding stage.

Once it is grown, it will give two crops a year, informed the handler of the farm. As Mahabubnagar is a drought-hit district, this plantation provides a ray of hope to farmers to. Not just Mahabubnagar, farmers from across Telangana and from adjacent States of Karnataka and Maharashtra are visiting to learn more and adopt the same in their areas.

The horticulture department in the state is also extending a big helping hand by providing subsidies to farmers who are opting for horticulture plantation in the State. “Each apple berry weighs about 180 to 200 grams and we are yielding about 60-100 kgs from each tree.

We are supplying it to Hyderabad market apart from local markets in the district headquarters. One kilogram of apple berry costs Rs 30 to Rs 40. Just last week we could yield 11 quintals and sold it at Rs 40,00 per quintal to Gaddiannaram Market,” said Ram Singh.

Overall, this unique experiment in Mahabubnagar has become successful and instead of getting depressed due to lack of water and drought many farmers are looking at this alternative farming.