IMPHAL, Aug 31 � For farmers like J Hechuon, 62, of Bunglon village pineapple cultivation in his two hectare plot on the slopes of Khousabung hill range in Manipur�s Churachandpur district is his main occupation since the last five decades.
In the eighties, he used to get a profit of about Rs 20,000 annually from pineapple cultivation but now it has increased to Rs 50,000.
�This year, I am expecting a profit of not less than Rs 60,000�, Hechuon, head of a 10 member family told The Assam Tribune during the 3rd Manipur Pineapple Festival which concluded recently.
Like him, almost all the 60 households of Bunglon village including Heshiah(50), a teacher by profession earn similar income from pineapple farming.
The farmers of the neighbouring villages such as Khousabung having around 80 households are also taking up pineapple cultivation. �In the past there was no encouragement from any quarter to go for pineapple farming�, H Soizalal, Chairman of Manipur Pineapple Festival Committee (MPFC) said. But after the introduction of the Pineapple Festival, now more than 10,000 farmers have taken up cultivation of pineapple producing about 10 lakh fruits.
Farmers of Khousabung area mostly women including a young lady Denila Kom, 27 of Phungchongjang village actively participated in the Pineapple exhibition cum sale at the two- day festival.
According to MPFC chairman, around 72,000 metric tonnes of pineapples were produced from a farming area measuring around 80,000 hectares in Manipur, of which 40,000 metric tonnes were consumed locally while the remaining were exported outside the State.
Two most-sought-after varieties of pineapple � Kew (big size) and Queen (small size) are produced on commercial scale in Manipur.
The eight month availability of pineapples in Manipur makes the State highly advantageous for setting up of processing and export units. The Kew variety available here is known for it�s distinctive taste and flavour. This variety is most suited for canning. Thus canned pineapples form a part of the exports from processed fruit industry from this region.
