<i>Pineapples aplenty but still pricey</i>
Pineapple has flooded local markets in Rangamati as the hill district witnessed a bumper production of the juicy summer fruit this season.Photo: STAR
Pineapple has flooded the markets in the hill town but it still remains pricey for ordinary consumers. The growers are happy due to bumper output this year mainly due to early rainfall, said Sadir Uddin, deputy director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). At least 15 to 20 truckloads of pineapple leave Rangamati for other districts everyday, said local fruit trader Lokman. The number of buyers increases during weekly hat (makeshift market) days on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday due to arrival of plenty of pineapples from various areas of the district, he said. At least 1845 hectares of land were brought under pineapple cultivation in the district this year, a DAE official said. Yield of pineapple per hectare exceeded 30 metric tonnes (MT) this season while it was 20 MT last year, he said. Two varieties of pineapple -- Jiantque (Singapuri) and Honey Queen (Jalpuri) -- are being grown in the district. Commercial cultivation of the juicy summer fruit started here 15 years back. Earlier, only the indigenous farmers grew it in small scale for family consumption. Currently, the fruit has turned into a cash crop for the growers while its cultivation saw rapid increase. The places well-known for growing the fruit in the district are Islampur, Betchhari, Bogachhari, Kutikchhari, Ramhoripara under Naniachar upazila, Bondukbhanga, Tomedung, Moghban, Kayindya, Hazaribug, Katachhari under Sadar upazila. Attarackhhara in Longudu, Dhumma Talang and Bhusionchhara in Barkal, Bonojogichhara and Samira in Jurachhari and Wagga, Debatachhari and Murolipara in Kaptai upazila are also reputed for pineapple cultivation. While visiting local markets a couple of days ago, this correspondent said that a pair of large size pineapple still sold at Tk 40-50. The price of a pair of small size fruit was Tk 20-30 while they were almost double only two weeks ago. In mid-May, the price came down slightly. But the price increased again because of high demand, said a local grower. The fruit is mostly transported by engine boats to Old Bus Station point in the district headquarters from different areas from where the traders send those to other parts of the country. Sukkra Charya Chakma, a grower at Noadam Katachhari under Sadar upazila, said "I cultivated pineapple on my six acres of land. I have already got Tk 2 lakh by harvesting two-thirds of fruits." I hope to get Tk 50 thousand from the rest of the fruits, said a beaming Sukkra.
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