Every summer, scores of agricultural labourers from surrounding villages of Nellore city turn into road-side vendors of palm fruits because of the high demand among the urban people for these fruits.
C. Malyadri, a farm worker from Utukuru village near here, comes to the city along with his family members and sell the palm fruits by finding his vending point at some convenient place on the city roads.
On a day of good demand, his family earns up to a maximum of Rs. 1,500. Each day they sell the fruits plucked from 10 to 15 trees which are taken on hire for the season.
“We give Rs. 25 per palm tree to the owner. Each tree yields up to 40 fruits. Transport charges will come to around Rs. 500. Each day, we sell fruits worth Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 2,500,” said Mr. Malyadri.
Each palm fruit is being sold at Rs. 5. If anybody buys in bulk, they charge lesser amount, he says
As there would be not enough agricultural work during summer season, the palm fruit vending has become one of the alternative source of work for many agricultural workers from Utukuru, Palaganipadu, Muduvarthy and other villages.
Known in local parlance as ‘Thati munjalu’, the palm fruits are considered a highly nutritious heat-beating food. It helps in smooth digestion and kidney health.
