Farmers of Nellore district are showing interest in cultivation of the Taiwan variety of acid lemons, hoping for higher yields. They are planting saplings brought from Kadiyam in East Godavari district and Railway Kodur in Annamayya district in the state to cultivate the variety on a pilot basis.
There are two major lemon markets in the area: on in Podalakur in the district and the other at Gudur in Tirupati district. Farmers cultivate lemons in Podalakur, Turimerla, Thalupuru, Degapudi, Tadiparthi, Mittatmakur, Gollapalli, Tippavarappadu, Sydapuram, Chaganam, Utukuru, Marlapudi, and Pagadalapalli.
The pandemic threw many farmers into a serious crisis as they faced losses of around Rs 1 bln last year. The farmers say they planted nearly 100 saplings of a normal variety in an extent of acreage and there is a scope for planting 300 saplings, if it is the Taiwan variety, in the same area.
Source: thehansindia.com