Ice apple ( thaati munjalu ) is the most-sought-after fruit in hot summer. People don’t mind getting their fingers sticky peeling the fruit’s skin as they are the best fruits for beating the heat and heat stroke.
From March to May, they used to be available in almost nook and corner of the city. But in this season, they are hardly found.
“I used to earn ₹500 and above every day by selling ice apples. I used to get four to five bunches, sell them and return to my village. This year there is no fruit,” said a farmer V. Narasimha Rao of Vuyyuru.
Roadside trees
chopped off
“We will bring palm fruits from Kankipadu, Vuyyuru, Pamarru, Tadepalli, Punadipadu and other neighbouring villages. But, due to road widening works, real estate and development of Amaravati Capital, many palm trees raised on the crop bunds and on the roadsides were chopped off,” say farmers.
“Last year, the cost of ice apples was ₹25 to ₹30 per dozen. This year, farmers are selling at more than ₹40 per dozen as the arrivals have dropped. Even, if we want to buy at high cost, ice apples are not available in the market,” said a retired teacher P. Babji.
