Farmers fret as Mattu gulla prices fall

As the prices of various vegetables have been decreasing in the market, a sudden fall has been recorded in the price of Mattu gulla, the unique local variety of brinjal, thus worrying farmers. The price of the vegetable, which was sold at Rs 80 per kilo, has slipped to Rs 25. 

Though the current season is the harvesting season of Mattu gulla, as the gulla brinjols are coming to the market in large quantities, the price of Mattu gulla has come down drastically.

As the special variety of the brinjal is grown in Mattu, Kaipunjal and Alinje villages of Udupi taluk, the farmers in the region have been disappointed greatly.

Hundreds of farmers are dependent upon the crop and the Mattu gulla is ready for harvest in many fields.  The farmers transport as many as 10 quintals of mattu gulla to the market every week.  

Even though gulla is supplied to Udupi and Mangaluru market from other places than Mattu, the Mattu gulla is in special demand at all times.  Accordingly, the price of Mattu gulla is more than ordinary gulla. But, the sudden fall in the prices of Mattu gulla has made the farmers fear of financial drawback.  

This has come as a shock to the farmers who were already worried due to the depreciation of Mattu gulla prices, after salt water entering the fields and ruining the tender gulla. The gulla vegetable grown in more than 30 acres of land, with high care was ruined. 

Financial chaos

The direct sale of mattu gulla to shandy markets would now fetch the growers only Rs 25 per kg.  The middle men and retailers sell the vegetable at Rs 30 to Rs 50, earning a sound profit while the farmers are bequeathed with a loss.

The beginning of the season, with farmers getting good harvest and fetching them Rs 80 per kg.