Making use of the cheapest energy available - solar energy, mobile fruit vendors in the Krishna district headquarters have improved their business on the pavements this summer.
The fruit vendors are now largely dependent on solar energy by hiring solar lights, which are being offered by the town-based solar energy service agencies on rental basis. As sun goes down, a visitor can witness beeline of solar lights focussing on fruits, mostly mango and banana, on the push-cart vehicles on either side of main roads in the town here.
Introducing the solar power in fruit and vegetable market to address the electricity problem of the mobile vendors, many agencies are making good income promising supply of the solar light. “We supply a two-bulb light that works with solar energy to the vendor at his point in the evening. It is collected back the next morning to get it charged for the evening”, said Gupta Solar Service’s V. Nancharayya. He had expanded his business to around 20 customers and attends to every call that he receives from the vendors for either repair of the lights or for additional lights. Like Mr.Nancharayya, several solar service agencies have already tapped their market, even in Vijayawada city. “Each light functions for 8 to 10 hours, for which we have to pay a rent of Rs.25 a day. No matter to the supplier wherever we use the light, even in the house. When moving from place to place in search of customers is inevitable, this mode of energy is vendor-friendly at the lowest price”, said K. Siva Prasad, a mango seller on mobile push-cart. Nevertheless, since the solar power agencies come down to the vendor, it’s merely saving the time of the petty businessmen. In the case of mango vendors, the solar light is a perfect tool. “The yellow-fruit looks like more yellowish and fresh as the reflection of the light fell on them during the night time. It would obviously attract the visitors. It can also be easily carried and simply stand on the push-cart”, said another mango vendor Y. Maheswara Rao. It’s the petty businessmen community that had easily tackled their woes of electricity in the tiny town by finding their way to flourish their business.