East Godavari tapioca ryots hit by low yields

RAJAHMUNDRY: Tapioca (Karra pendalam) farmers of East Godavari district are in total distress as they reaped a poor harvest this season due to lack adequate rainfall and pest attack. Adding to their woes, the prices of tapioca have slumped to Rs 550 to Rs 600 per Putti (a bag of 225 kg) this year from Rs 1,000 last year. The farmers have urged the government to come to their rescue by procuring their produce at a support price of Rs 1,000 per Putti.Tapioca is mainly cultivated in upland and agency areas of East Godavari. The district is a major producer of tapioca in the state, followed by Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. The crop is raised in about 80,000 acres. About 90 per cent of the total acreage falls in Rampachodavaram and Peddapuram divisions where a number of sago and starch mills are located. About 80 per cent of the produce is used for making sago. Starch is produced with the remaining 20 per cent of the crop. The crop yield has declined by 50 per cent this time affecting the farmers. “Last time we harvested 30 Puttis of tuber per acre. This time the crop yield declined to half due to deficient rainfall and pest attack,” said R Satyanarayana, a Peddapuram farmer. Tapioca Farmers Association honorary president Putta Somanna Choudary alleged that traders and millers formed a syndicate to exploit the farmers.