A farmer looking at his cauliflower crop damaged due to Cyclone Montha at Penamaluru near Vijayawada.
| Photo Credit: K.V.S. Giri
Cyclone Montha has dealt a severe blow to cauliflower farmers across Andhra Pradesh, particularly in Krishna district, damaging standing crops and pushing cultivators into distress.
Recent rains under the cyclone’s influence caused significant damage to cauliflower fields in parts of Penamaluru mandal, with several tenant farmers reporting heavy losses. The 90-day crop, which had promised good returns this season, was hit during the crucial curd formation stage.
Farmers are estimated to have cultivated cauliflower on about 100 acres in Krishna district, mostly in and around Penamaluru. Officials from the Horticulture Department are assessing the losses suffered by farmers in Krishna and other parts of the State.
Cauliflower is typically grown as a winter crop, with farmers investing ₹50,000 to ₹60,000 per acre and expecting returns of ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh under normal conditions. But Cyclone Montha has upended those expectations this year.
Farmers such as Sk. Basha and Sheik Mastan Vali from Chodavaram said cultivation costs ranged between ₹45,000 and ₹70,000 per acre, depending on tenancy charges. “If the crop turns out well, we earn about ₹1.5 lakh per acre. But after this rain, we’re not sure if we can even recover ₹40,000,” said Mr. Basha, who grew cauliflower after ladies’ finger and plans to sow maize next.
Mastan Vali, a tenant farmer who leased 1.5 acres, reported losses of nearly ₹1 lakh due to rain damage. “We supply both to local shops and wholesale markets. The yield and prices were promising this year, but the rains ruined everything,” he said.
Another farmer, Dasari Seetaiah from Penamaluru, said about 30 to 40 acres in his village were under cauliflower cultivation, with each farmer owning between 1 and 3 acres. “On average, one acre yields 15,000 to 16,000 flowers. Some even get up to 20,000 when conditions are good,” he explained.
Cauliflower is usually grown after turmeric or ladies’ finger and followed by maize. Tenant farmers pay around ₹40,000 to ₹50,000 per acre annually as rent. The crop generally fetches an income of ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh per acre, depending on yield and market rates.
District Horticulture Officer J. Jyothi said around 90.96 hectares of vegetables were cultivated this season in the district, with 100 acres under cauliflower yielding nearly 25 tonnes per hectare. Farmers plan to take up the Namdhari hybrid variety for the second crop, targeting the January–February market.
An assessment of losses due to the cyclone is under way. “Curd (flower) formation should be above 33%, otherwise it won’t be counted as a loss, as farmers can take up another crop immediately,” Ms. Jyothi said.
Most cauliflower is grown during the rabi (winter) season from September to February, when the climate is cooler. Some early and off-season varieties are also cultivated to meet year-round demand. Many farmers are now preparing to till their lands again for maize cultivation.
Published – November 12, 2025 07:51 pm IST
