India’s Nellore district, home to nearly 400,000 lemon farmers, faces challenges due to water scarcity and failed monsoons. Production costs and inadequate Minimum Support Price (MSP) further strain prospects, with an estimated 80% loss prompting growers to reconsider lemon cultivation. Despite the usual demand spike from February to July, recent market data records a decline in lemon bag prices from 1,500 INR (approximately 18 USD) to 1,000 INR (approximately 12 USD) in Podalakuru.
Lemon plantations occur in water-strained areas like Podalakur and other mandals within Nellore, covering 30,000 hectares against the district’s horticultural crop area of 60,000 hectares. Annually, Nellore produces around 367,000 tons of lime. Profits per hectare from lemons range between 61,775 to 92,663 USD, contrasting with paddy earnings at 12,355 USD.
Historically, lemon growers and traders profited significantly, exporting produce to Northern India, including Delhi and Calcutta. Transactions previously took place via railway wagons from strategic stations such as Gudur. Notably, a lemon costs between 0.12 to 0.18 USD in Delhi markets. However, the cessation of railway transport now compels reliance on more expensive lorry options, tripling transportation costs, according to Podalakur mandal farmer Pasupuleti Munikishore, as cited by thehansindia.com.
Lemon cultivation supports livelihoods for roughly 60,000 to 70,000 farmers in Gudur division, with around 300,000 people engaged in the lemon trade, encompassing labor, wholesale and retail operations, and logistics. Following the railway transport halt, current logistics involve 20 lorries during peak seasons, reduced from former daily outputs due to waning demand in Northern States.
Concerns arise regarding the market conditions’ impact, as local traders increasingly decline purchases. Farmers recall assurances by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu about developing horticulture cultivation, as expressed at a recent TDP Mahanadu event in YSR Kadapa district. Farmers request government intervention to boost lemon-based agro-industries, facilitating better pricing for lemon produce.
Source: The Hans India
