Telangana: Farmers switch to drumsticks to tap demand from health freaks

Rampur (Adilabad): The drab looking drumstick (muniga) is a much sought after vegetable after its medicinal and nutritional value has been discovered. Progressive farmers are abandoning traditional and commercial crops in some parts of the old Adilabad district and are cultivating drumstick instead.

Drumstick leaves are used to prepare Ayurvedic medicines and drumstick curry is a special dish served to guests at functions because of its nutritional value. It is much in demand during the marriage season.

Water is essential for growth of the drumstick plant so it is farmers who have the drip irrigation facility who are the main growers.

Famers are growing drumstick plants in Dhanora in Indravelli mandal Mannur in Gudihatnoor mandal, and Rampur in Sirikonda mandal. Large quantities are sold in the weekly shandies, and in markets in Adilabad, Ichoda and Nirmal towns.

Ch. Omprakash of Rampur village in Sirikonda mandal, a drumstick farmer, says that he gets a yield of 1 to 1.5 quintals per day on his one acre of land from January to May; the yield will come down drastically in subsequent months.

The crop can be harvested in the second year after planting and the yield begins to fall in the fourth year. The life span of the plant depends on the variety. Each plant costs Rs 40.

“There is a good demand for drumstick; it will be sold for Rs 3,000 per quintal, from January to June, which is considered to be the marriage season. In other months, it will sell for Rs 2,500,” said Omprakash.

He is disappointed at the poor marketing infrastructure for farmers growing drumsticks. If there is a large yield, farmers have to transport the crop to Nizamabad or Hyderabad as there is no big local market for drumsticks.