BELA (ADILABAD): Progressive farmers in the Adilabad district are seeing high demand for cauliflower this season, selling at ₹100 per kg in local markets. The demand has surged due to reduced yields following heavy rains in the area. These progressive farmers encourage small and marginal farmers not to rely solely on commercial crops. Instead, they suggest dedicating one or two acres to vegetable cultivation, which can provide a safeguard in difficult times.
These farmers choose to sell their vegetables directly in select markets, avoiding middlemen to secure higher profits. By selling directly, they report earning 30-40 per cent more. They cultivate cauliflower three times a year and supply markets in Bela, Adilabad in Telangana, and Patan, Kurpana, and Mukhudbandh in Maharashtra.
A prime example is the Takre family from Maniyarpur village in Bela mandal. Athmaram Takre, 55, along with his wife Savitha and children Anupam and Aishwarya, are all involved in agriculture. Anupam, 24, who holds an MA in Hindi, oversees one acre dedicated to vegetables, yielding 4-5 quintals of cauliflower and earning up to ₹5 lakh annually. He noted that a single crop cycle takes 70 days from planting to harvest, yielding a profit of ₹3 lakh on an investment of ₹2 lakh. The family also cultivates tomatoes, brinjal, mirchi, and palak, with tomatoes and mirchi fetching ₹50 per kg and brinjal ₹30 per kg. Athmaram’s daughter, Aishwarya, an MBA student in Hyderabad, also contributes to the family farm during holidays. She shared that her lifelong involvement in agriculture has fostered a deep interest, and she finds joy in working alongside her family.
