Madikeri: For years, Kodagu’s avocados — locally known as butter fruit — were a prized summer crop, travelling beyond Kodagu and finding steady takers in neighbouring Kerala. This summer, however, the fruit’s fortunes have turned, with prices crashing amid a glut and subdued demand.Encouraged by strong market demand in the past, many farmers in Kodagu adopted avocado as an alternative horticultural crop. But higher production this year has flooded the market, forcing bulk sales to traders at sharply reduced rates. From fetching Rs 150 to Rs 180 per kg last summer, butter fruit now sells for about Rs 50 per kg.“This time, the demand for the avocados has decreased due to the high production of the fruit,” said BM Muralidhar, head of the Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Chettalli.Traders say markets outside the state have slowed as well. “We are sending butter fruit purchased from Kodagu to other states. This time, the demand outside the state is very low, which has affected the business,” said Mohammed, a fruit trader in Nellihudikeri.Experts said growers and traders need to look beyond fresh sales and explore value-added products such as avocado pulp, shakes and ice cream to expand markets. They also warned of further pressure ahead, as avocado production rises during the rainy season, when demand typically dips.Adding to farmers’ worries, experts noted that excessive heat and drought during summer affected fruit size and quality and led to early ripening, making traders hesitant to buy large quantities — another factor driving prices down.
