Ashoka Shivareddy, a farmer from a traditional agricultural family, has turned the custard apple into a successful commercial venture in southern India.
This transition is significant because it demonstrates how drought-resistant crops can provide economic stability for farmers in regions facing severe water scarcity. By pivoting from traditional crops to the cherimoya, Shivareddy is creating a scalable model for agricultural resilience in arid climates.
The project is located in the Kolar region of Karnataka state. This area of southern India is particularly vulnerable to drought, making traditional farming difficult and risky for local families.
Shivareddy identified the custard apple as a viable alternative due to its ability to thrive with minimal water. The region receives limited annual rainfall, which complicates the growth of more water-intensive staples.
"The region receives an amount of rainfall ranging between 60 and 70 centimeters only," Shivareddy said [1].
To combat these conditions, farmers in the area often resort to digging deep wells to find water. However, the adoption of the custard apple allows for a more sustainable approach to land use. Shivareddy has moved the fruit from being a simple local crop to a structured agricultural project, improving livelihoods for those in the Kolar district.
By focusing on the cherimoya, the project addresses the specific climatic challenges of Karnataka. The success of the venture provides a blueprint for other farmers in drought-prone zones to diversify their crops, and reduce their dependence on unpredictable monsoon rains [1].
“Ashoka Shivareddy has turned the custard apple into a successful commercial venture in southern India.”
The shift toward drought-resistant specialty crops like the custard apple represents a strategic adaptation to climate volatility in India. By moving away from water-heavy agriculture in the Kolar region, farmers can reduce their reliance on depleting groundwater and precarious rainfall patterns, potentially stabilizing local food economies and increasing rural income through high-value fruit production.
