From Coffee to Avocado: Tribal Farmers in ASR District Find a New Green Gold

In the lush hills of Gondipakalu and Peddabarada, the rhythm of tribal life is changing. Where coffee once ruled, avocado trees are now taking root, offering farmers a fresh source of income and hope.

For decades, coffee plantations shaped the agricultural economy of this region. But in recent years, high-value crops like apples and dragon fruit have started to gain ground. Avocado, introduced in 2004 by the Coffee Board of India as a shade tree for coffee crops, is finally showing its commercial promise.

Early adopters such as Janakani Lingamurthy, Venkata Rao, Baudu Rambabu, Chinakondala Rao, and Bonangi Srinu planted saplings at just Rs 25 each. “Back then, we didn’t realise its value,” says Lingamurthy. Much of the fruit went unharvested and was wasted due to limited awareness.

The turning point came about five years ago, when a voluntary organisation stepped in. An organic farmers’ collective began procuring avocados at Rs 120–Rs 160 per kg and supplying them to urban markets. Today, several farmers in these villages earn Rs 30,000–Rs 40,000 a year from avocado alone.

Chetti Bindu, Head of the Horticultural Research Station at Chintapalli, notes, “The health benefits—managing cholesterol, controlling blood sugar, improving skin—are fuelling demand in cities. The region’s climate is perfect, with grafted saplings yielding fruit in five years and mature trees producing up to 900 fruits by the 12th year. All cultivation is organic, without chemical fertilisers.”

Locally, avocados sell for Rs 50–Rs 60 each, and some farmers now courier them directly to consumers. Sravya, a resident of Visakhapatnam, has incorporated the fruit into her diet, while vendors like Sanyasamma at Rythu Bazar report growing demand.

The shift to avocado cultivation represents more than a change in crops—it signals a sustainable, profitable future for tribal agriculture in ASR district. Tradition remains rooted in the soil, but the branches now reach toward new markets and opportunities.