ProMASS News
Agartala, July 26, 2019: Pineapple growers of Dhalai district in Tripura are hoping to export their products to other countries and overcome common incidence of ‘distress sell’ in local markets. Most of the pineapple growers belong to financially weak indigenous communities of Baghmaara, Nightangle, Harinchhera, Ganganagar under Dhalai district. It may be noted, Tripura is exporting it Queen and Kew variety pineapples to other countries.
“After BJP-led Government came to power, farming communities – paddy cultivators and pineapple growers – are getting benefits of Government’s positive step in enhancing farmer’s produces by procuring at MSP and exporting pineapples. However, pineapple growers of Dhalai are yet to receive benefits of pineapple export”, alleged a Bagmaara based pineapple grower.
Local sources said, pineapple production in Dhalai was huge and pineapples are flooding the Ambassa markets. “As pineapple is highly perishable, we are incurring financial losses due to excess supply of produces”, growers said.
One sexagenarian, Jamunati Reang cultivated several hortiproducts – pineapples, scanted lemon, betel nuts etc – with Government assistances.
“The Government distributed pineapple saplings – and with favourable weather and hard work, production of pineapple was huge – but excess supply is inflicting losses”, Jamunati Reang said. Echoing Jamunati’s concern, another pineapple grower said, we collect 200-250 pineapples from garden and proceed to sell in Ambassa, Kulai and other markets – sometimes, we get a good price, however, price of a single piece pineapple comes down to Rs 2-3 or Rs 5 on a lean day.
“Considering costs of wastages, transportation, manual labour in the garden etc, total earning is not sustainable”, he alleged. “In view of present condition, it is high time that Government procures pineapples from us and exports those”, Jamunati Reang demanded.
