VIJAYAWADA: Come summer, the city witnesses a virtual green riot.

All the thoroughfares are dotted with the season's most-preferred fruit - watermelons -- arriving from all corners of the State and also from the neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Due to the incessant rain, which lashed Tamil Nadu recently, the season had a delayed start.

Says Ch. Nagaeswara Rao, a wholesaler trader at Kedareswarapet market:

Late arrival

"The fruits should have trickled in by December during Ramzan season from the villages in Tamil Nadu such as Arambakkam, Tandalam and Sattivedu. Due to heavy rain and late sowing, the first crop has started rolling from last month."

Mr. Rao said as many as 60 to 70 lorries were arriving from Cuddapah, Eluru and Tamil Nadu villages weighing from five kg to 20 kg. "The actual season starts from February 15 and would last till July. The crop is encouraging in Andhra Pradesh this year." While 30 truckloads are distributed to retailers in and around Vijayawada, remaining 30 trucks go to Khammam, Kakinada, Gudivada, Mylavaram, Guntur and Nuzvid every day," says Rao.

Varieties

Which is the most relished variety of the melons? "Without any doubt Nandari is the king of watermelons.

They are huge in size and sweet in content. The fluid ratio is also more. The other varieties are Sugar Baby, Arkamani and Black Nandari," says Subba Rao, a farmer from Adavinakkala.

Nearly two lorry loads of fruits weighing 20 tonnes could be cultivated in an acre of land. The price of the melon ranges from Rs. 15 to Rs. 30 depending on the size and variety.

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