Rangamati representative: Honeyquin pineapples are being sold in the markets of Rangamati. The town’s Banrupa Bazar, Samtaghat, College Gate, Tabalchari, and Bhedbhedi Bazars are stocked with Toitambur juice and delicious and sweet mountain pineapple. Farmers in this hilly district are happy to sell their pineapples at good prices and enjoy an early harvest.
According to the Rangamati Agriculture Department, pineapples have been cultivated on 25 thousand hectares of land in the district. The production target has been fixed at 62 thousand 500 metric tons. Nanyarchar Upazila produces the most pineapples in the district. Then in Sadar, Kaukhali, and Baghaichhari upazilas.
The district agriculture department said that for the last two years in Rangamati, pineapple varieties of the MD-2 variety have been brought from Malaysia and cultivated. This type of pineapple has been produced in 70 percent of Rangamati gardens. Pineapples of this variety have more aroma and taste than local varieties. It has been cultivated here under the special incentives of the government for two years.
On the surface, it has been seen that honeyquin pineapples are being transported in rows of engine-driven boats at Banrupa Bazar level in Rangamati city. Farmers from different upazilas are bringing pineapples and selling them in the hope of wholesale traders. Farmers are happy to get an early, good yield and a good price. These pineapples are being sent to Dhaka and Chittagong outside the district city.
Habib, a wholesale trader who came to buy pineapples from Comilla Devidwar in the Banrupa Samtaghat area of Rangamati city, said that he bought 5000 pineapples. The price of each piece has fallen to 13–17 rupees. Can sell in the Comilla market for 30–40 taka.
Shantipriya Chakma, a farmer who came to sell pineapples from Gunabhanga in Sadar Upazila of Rangamati, said that he planted 12,000 pineapples. But I only got 2500 pineapples. Monkeys and squirrels have destroyed most of the pineapples. He said the price of pineapple in the market is fairly good. In today’s market, small-sized pineapples are being sold at Tk 14 per piece and large-sized pieces at Tk 25 per piece.
Pineapple farmer Kalo Vikas Chakma of Keretchhari, Naniarchar, and Rangamati said the price of pineapple is better than last year. Now you can make a profit by selling pineapples. He brought 3500 pineapples for sale.
The Deputy Director of the Rangamati Agriculture Extension Directorate, Moniruzzaman, said that the pineapples of the Rangamati region are famous. As it is a tourist area and tourists from different parts of the country visit here, they are attracted to pineapples. Here, the production of the honeyquin variety of pineapple is good.
He said there has been an early pineapple harvest here for several years. In the pineapple fields here, production is fast with the use of bio-chemicals like PGR (plant growth hormone). However, the use of this chemical, although not harmful to the body, has reduced the tradition and taste of pineapples in the district to a great extent.
He said that currently, farmers are getting good prices for pineapples. Once upon a time, if the pineapples were not sold here, the farmers would throw them on the road or in the water. But now that is not the case. Pineapples are produced well in Nanyarchar, Rangamati. It is increasing day by day.
