Kodagu’s oranges in Kerala
Kodagu’s juicy oranges are famous across the country. The fruit which is harvested twice a year, has now entered the market. In fact, the fruit has found a huge market in neighbouring Kerala. TOwing to the delay in monsoon, most farmers and traders are now busying themselves with Kodagu’s oranges.

Several traders are buying oranges in a wholesale manner at Kottamudi, Hodawada, Murnadu and other places near Napoklu. They then transport them to Kerala.
The oranges that are harvested from the winter find a larger demand in the local markets than the oranges harvested in the rainy season.

The oranges from the rainy season are priced between Rs 20 and Rs 30 per kilogram.
Orange yield has come down drastically in the recent past. The size of the fruit has gotten smaller, but they still retain the true Kodagu orange flavour, points out Hodawada’s orange trader Hamsa.

Still, orange crops have had their share of troubles. In the recent past, they have been afflicted with a pest and that has affected orange produce. It is imperative that coffee estate owners pay greater attention to orange crops.
C N Suresh

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Supplements / Spectrum / Miscellany