In the wake of low net returns from the traditional cereal crops, experts have suggested farmers diversify and take up cultivation of horticultural crops for increasing income.
They were speaking during a day-long convention on custard apple organised by MASSIA, in association with Akhil Maharashtra Sitaphal Utpadak Prashikshan Snagh, Pune, and Mahatma Gandhi Mission Krushi Vikas Kendra, at Rukhmini Hall on Monday.
Even as 2,456.2 hectares of land is under cultivation for custard apple in the Marathwada region, the percentage of processing, which adds to the farmers' income, is abysmal due to lack of infrastructure, especially the cold storage facility required to preserve the perishable fruit.