Owing to a good market, pineapple cultivation is slowly picking up in some of the districts in the east. This time, it is the farmer’s group of Radhi Gewog in Trashigang, who started growing pineapple as an alternative cash crop. The group cultivates vegetables besides paddy cultivation.
24 farmers of Pakaling village in Radhi Gewog started growing pineapple for the first time this year on two acres of land. They have been cultivating vegetables for commercial purposes for the last three years.
They planted more than 5500 pineapple saplings.
Farmers said they were interested in growing the fruit after Agro Industry in Lingmithang in Monggar agreed to purchase their produce.
“During summer, when we have to work in paddy and maize fields, we don’t get much time to grow vegetables. So, we started growing pineapple. Farmers are divided into three groups and each group planted more than 1700 saplings. Hereafter, if they have the plan to provide us with more plants, we will grow more,” said Pema Dhendup, a farmer.
“It is easy to grow and we don’t even have to face marketing problems during the fruiting season. Lingmithang agro-industry officials have told us that they will buy our produce. So, it has been around 5 months since we grew the plant. We are also planning to grow more in the coming year. But at the same time, we will grow other vegetables,” said Choening Zangmo, another farmer.
They added that growing pineapple is less laborious compared to other vegetables.
According to Radhi Gewog Agriculture Extension Officer, by next year, they will cultivate pineapple on six acres of land. They are hopeful of reaping the first harvest by the end of next year.
The farmers received support from the Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods Enhancement Programme and Trashigang District Agriculture Office.
Besides Trashigang, farmers of Pema Gatshel cultivate pineapple on large scale.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Tshering Zam
