Ballari curry leaves spread aroma to Arab countries

BALLARI: Known for its iron ore, Ballari district is also famous for the cultivation of high-quality curry leaves which are making their way into the Arab world where they are in great demand.
The aromatic leaves are grown in Belagal and surrounding villages, around 8km to the west of Ballari city. These plants are grown in around 30 farms on more than 200 acres of land. Their cultivation in the region started in the 90s. Curry leaves are grown on fragmented land along with millets, providing farmers a good source of income.
Obalesh, a farmer in Belagal, told TOI the curry leaves grown in the region are procured by local traders who in turn transport them to Bengaluru.“From the capital city, they are shipped to Arab countries. There is good demand for our curry leaves for its superior quality,” he said.
Farmers get up to Rs 25 per kg if the yield is good and market rates favour them. It may also drop to Rs 4 per kg as it happened five years ago, causing hardship to the growers. Farmers grow 50-80kg on an acre, spending around Rs 20,000. Prone to diseases, the curry leaves grown here are under the threat of dust and chemicals emitting from sponge iron industries.
Former Belagal gram panchayat vice-president N Virupaksha said, “There are seven major sponge iron factories in the region which are causing damage to the crop. The elected representative should raise this problem in parliament to bring solace to farmers and protect the crop.”
Farmer Sharanabasappa, who grows curry leaves on his 2-acre land, said: “We spend around Rs 1,000 for spraying pesticides to prevent diseases. If there is good rain, it’s a profitable crop. We are proud that our curry leaves are in great demand in the Arab countries.”
Belagal gram panchayat member B Thimmanna said curry leaves require good amount of water. “To grow this plant, the farmland should have proper irrigation facility. Most of the farmers grow the crop by digging borewells. But from the past two years, the groundwater level depleted due to inadequate rainfall in the region. We used to get water by digging 100ft, but now we have to dig 1,000ft. So, this has forced some farmers to abandon cultivation of curry leaves and opt for crops which require less water,” he said.