Over the past few weeks, Namireddy Srinivas Reddy has been contemplating severing the very lifeblood of his existence — his 12-acre sweet lime orchard that he has nurtured over 13 years.

The monthly rate is decided based on the area of the orchard, the number of trees, and local demand. Two decades ago, the erstwhile Nalgonda district boasted of three lakh acres of sweet lime ...