DIMAPUR, Sept 20 - Farmers in Medziphema, 25 km from here, have taken to pineapple farming in a big way to boost their agricultural income.
The villages in Medziphema are famous for their pineapple farms which produce one of the best and sweetest pineapples in the world.
Besides supplying raw pineapples, the farmers process the fruit at a canning and juicing facility and produce tinned pineapple and bottled pineapple juices. They market their produce locally and also to the security forces in the entire North East.
The processing plant �Medziphema Food Processing Company� was installed by the Assam Rifles in 2014 to generate employment and boost the economy of the State at the micro level. The facility is owned by a cooperative society comprising members of Assam Rifles and Medziphema Village Council.
The canning plant has seven employees, primarily local women from Medziphema. Besides providing support to the employees and their families, the plant while procuring pineapples in bulk from the various small-scale farmers has ensured regular financial support to around 25 farmers.
