With the monsoon getting over, local cultivation of tubers has picked up. Variety of tubers have started making an appearance in the markets, reports Bhiva P Parab
Tubers which are good for health have been eaten by generations of Goans. Even now the demand for tubers remains good in the state especially those which are grown locally.
With the rains gone, it’s time for tubers and luckily there are varieties of tubers such as maddi (colocasia tuber) and churana (elephant foot yam), etc, for choice.
According to the information available from vendors in the state, despite the availability of exotic vegetables and changing taste of Goan youth the demand for tubers is strong. Therefore tubers are priced expensively making it out of reach for middle class Goans.
“The rates vary according to the demand and supply. We have to make some profit after selling the tubers as this profit is our earnings for the day. So naturally when we incur high cost at the source the rate will be high in the markets also,” said a vendor.
The vendor added that, rates vary depending on the supply. “It is not that, the price will remain the same forever. They go on fluctuating,” she said. Vendors source locally grown tubers from fields on the outskirts of the city. On the inner roads of Taleigao several women can be seen selling tubers.
It may be noted that the price of the tubers generally depend on the size and quality and also the market demand. Generally the churana is priced at around Rs 100 to 150 a kg depending on the market and quality, while in some markets the churana or other tubers are sold depending on the size, like a very small size churana may cost somewhere between Rs 60 to 100, while a small size will cost around Rs 150 to Rs 200 and a medium churana will cost Rs 200 to Rs 350. The bigger size ones will be priced at around Rs 350 to 500 or even more again depending on the market.
A vendor said, “The prices varies according to the quality and size and the prize also depends on the quantity available, the demand for the tubers in the market is also a factor which determines price and the local tubers are quite in demand in the state and so there is quite good rate for these.” He added, that, some customers especially ask for the local tubers.
In the city markets the tubers are little costly than the local village markets as there is also transportation cost which adds to the selling price.
Maddi is favorite of many and the price varies according to the size. The price of maddi generally ranges from Rs 50 to Rs 250 depending on the size. The local variety of maddi are little costly than those brought from outside the state, especially from the neighbouring state of Karnataka.
The demand for the kate kange (hairy potatoes) is quite good and here also the price varies depending on the size. Big kate kange fetch the farmers and the vendors more money as they enjoy robust sales due to being tastier. About eight to 10 big sized kate kange is sold at Rs 100, while around 10 to 15 smaller ones are sold for Rs 50. Some of the vendors even sell them in kgs and they are priced at around Rs 80 to 100 a kg.
The farmers who cultivate these kate kange either sell directly in the local markets or sell it to the wholesalers. Farmers keep aside whatever is required for the self-consumption and for seed purpose and the remaining is sold in the market, according to the information available from the sources.
There is another variety of tubers called the ‘Karanay Muna’ which are also priced at around Rs 80 to 100 a kg. It may be noted that some village people grow tubers and sell it directly in the markets or they sell it to the regular vendors who sell their products in the various markets of the state and if they sell directly in the markets they get more money.
While speaking, an elderly woman said, “Tubers are good for health and I feel local tubers are very good for health as they are grown with hardly any use of chemical manure and are organic. Tubers have been eaten by generations but now we are cultivating less of them due to our fields getting destroyed by construction activities. Earlier during our younger days during this time of the year we were dependent on some wild vegetables, tubers and locally grown vegetables and recently the tubers coming from outside Goa is slowly losing the market for tubers and more of outside tubers are seen in the markets these days.”
According to the information available from the sources, there is scope for commercial cultivation of tubers and it is the younger generation who should come forward and take interest in the farming activities.
The tubers being hardy crop can stand adverse condition and does not spoil easily in too much rains and also if there is dry spell. However the farmers has to take good care of the seed so that they are available during the next season for cultivation and the seed which is required for the cultivation has to be maintained by the farmers themselves.
Tubers add variety to the diet in addition to offering numerous nutritional and health benefits. They are starchy crops and excellent for eating after exercise as they offer quick energy. Tubers are also low in calories and therefore good for weight watchers.
In some countries, edible tubers are also used as traditional medicinal. A variety of foods can be prepared using tubers and they are also said to be used in industrial applications. Tuber cultivation needs to be encouraged in the state due to their ability to earn income for farmers and make agriculture
viable.
