Papaya cultivation gains popularity among Tamil Nadu farmers

DHARAMPURI - A large number of farmers in Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri district are reaping good benefits from papaya cultivation.

Papaya grows comparatively quickly, and thus, it is fast becoming a major crop in many villages of Tamil Nadu. It has huge potential for export and there is a demand of the fruit in local areas as well.

“In Dharmapuri, farmer has cultivated papaya and getting very good yield at Kundalpatti village. He has cultivated one hectare of land and is getting profit of over 200,000 rupees per hectare. The brokers are coming from Kerala and taking the fruits,” said Sushila, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu.

On the other side, farmers are cultivating papaya, as they are familiar to the fact that it has big medicinal value. Besides, the fruit and its leaves contain enzymes, which help in digestion.

Papaya trees produce fruits quite fast (within six months), depending on the cultivation practices and weather conditions.

“I have two-and-a-half acres of land on which I planted 1,400 trees. Within six to eight months, it gives yield. I will be consistently getting yield for two years. I have been getting 150 to 200 kg of papaya. On an average, one tonne of this papaya would sell for Rs.4,000 in the market. During the season, it will go up to Rs.10,000,” said Gopal, a farmer of Dharmapuri.

There are two types of papayas namely-Hawaiian and Mexican. The Hawaiian papayas are commonly found in supermarkets. These are pear-shaped fruits, generally weighing about one pound. Mexican papayas are much larger and can weigh up to 10 pounds. By Jaikumar(ANI)