Home ›› 13 Oct 2021 ›› Nation
Pineapple farming is getting popular and making many farmers of Fulbaria upazila in Mymensingh happy as it is helping them earn a substantial amount of money.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), pineapple was cultivated in 1,676 hectares of land in Santoshpur, Krishtapur, and Rangamatzia of the upazila this season.
A total of 600 farmers in the areas have been cultivating pineapple in their land and homestead gardens for long considering its economic aspect.
As a result, many farmers have become self-reliant.
With necessary help and logistic support from the DAE, huge quantities of pineapple are being produced in the upazila, said a local DAE official.
Some 600 to 700 saplings can be planted in per bigha land, which are producing 1,000 to 1,200 pineapples every year on average.
Akbar Hossain, a farmer from Santoshpur, said as it is profitable, more and more farmers in the area are becoming interested in pineapple cultivation.
Due to good prices, the number of gardeners has also increased, he said.
He hopes to get a profit of Tk 5 lakh this season, excluding the cost.
Another farmer Ayub Ali said he had cultivated pineapple in 10 acres of land this season.
He has sold one lakh pineapples from his garden so far and has profited Tk 16 lakh, excluding expenses.
The retail price of four pieces of pineapple ranges from Tk 100-400 depending on the size and market.
Jamir Hossain, a farmer from Rangamatzia area, said the pineapple of Fulbaria is becoming popular day by day due to its delicious taste.
“Due to good prices, farmers are becoming interested in pineapple cultivation. Moreover, no toxic chemicals are applied during cultivation,” he added.
Mymensingh DAE Deputy Director Matuizzaman said the soil of the upazila is suitable for pineapple cultivation.
Due to good yield and high prices, local farmers are becoming more and more interested in pineapple cultivation, he said.
Pineapple of this upazila is completely free from pesticides, he added.
