Hyderabad: The demand for organic food products has been rising steadily in the city, with a 48 per cent increase since 2011. In fact, the city is in strong competition with Bengaluru, which was once much ahead of Hyderabad.
Many residents of the twin cities are steadily making the shift to organic food. Today, there are 32 new mini stores selling organic produce in the city. Moreover, weekly and monthly organic bazaars are organised and there is also the option of home delivery of organic products.
As per records, 20 families in Hyderabad have taken up organic farming on land taken on lease in the city. Home gardening has also witnessed growth.
In a city survey, around 90 per cent of the retailers cited health and environment consciousness as the main reasons for the brisk sale of organic products.
“Organic farming has been one of the fastest growing industries in the last year, thanks to the higher disposable inco-mes, rising health consciousness and increased demand for organic food.
Parents are very concerned about the health of their children and willing to spend more to ensure that they get better and safer food,” said Santhosh Banpur, the co-owner of Hyderabad Goes Green store.
He added that though the organic products are 15-35 per cent more expensive than non-organic food items, consumers are not deterred.
Among the various types of products, vegetables are most sought-after, followed by fruits, pulses, food grains and milk. Items like fruit juices and tea are also popular.
Sejal Parikh, an organic food buyer, said, “With increased awareness, even the common grocery stores and supermarkets have a counter allotted to organic foods.
