The Nilgiris: The crunchiness, color and the taste of carrots grown in Ooty stands apart from the other hilly terrains.
The Nilgiris: The crunchiness, color and the taste of carrots grown in Ooty stands apart from the other hilly terrains. The climatic conditions and the terrain in Ooty and its neighbouring areas are ideal for growing carrots. More than 100 tonnes of carrot is produced from the Nilgiris which are exported and supplied to other parts of the State and Country.
The farmers take the produce to Mettupalayam wholesale mandi, where it will be sold at auctions depending upon the prevailing demand and quality.
Of late, the carrot farmers from Ketti, Nedugula, Milithen, VOC Nagar, Kookalthurai and Kattapettu are upset over the increasing volume of rotten carrots which directly affects their profits.
"The rotten and broken carrots will be discarded at the MTP market, thus leaving us take a hit in our profits. During the cleaning process, the workers wash the carrots and dump them in sacks in moist condition. At times, if the carrots are stored in the sacks for more than a day they tend to rotten", said a carrot farmer from Ketti.
The farmers in Kotagiri opine that wastage has adversely affected their profits. "The carrots which were sold at Rs. 55 to 65 at the wholesale market has dropped to Rs. 35 to Rs. 40 per kg. The cost of harvesting including wages of labourers and fertilisers will be much higher than the price we yield", he lamented.
As the demand for carrots are expected to rise in the upcoming season, the carrot farmers are devising ways to minimise wastage and increase their profits. With monsoons nearing, the farmers are devising plans to prevent rotting of carrots before harvest.
The farmers take the produce to Mettupalayam wholesale mandi, where it will be sold at auctions depending upon the prevailing demand and quality.
Of late, the carrot farmers from Ketti, Nedugula, Milithen, VOC Nagar, Kookalthurai and Kattapettu are upset over the increasing volume of rotten carrots which directly affects their profits.
"The rotten and broken carrots will be discarded at the MTP market, thus leaving us take a hit in our profits. During the cleaning process, the workers wash the carrots and dump them in sacks in moist condition. At times, if the carrots are stored in the sacks for more than a day they tend to rotten", said a carrot farmer from Ketti.
The farmers in Kotagiri opine that wastage has adversely affected their profits. "The carrots which were sold at Rs. 55 to 65 at the wholesale market has dropped to Rs. 35 to Rs. 40 per kg. The cost of harvesting including wages of labourers and fertilisers will be much higher than the price we yield", he lamented.
As the demand for carrots are expected to rise in the upcoming season, the carrot farmers are devising ways to minimise wastage and increase their profits. With monsoons nearing, the farmers are devising plans to prevent rotting of carrots before harvest.