Bangladesh: Rangamati pineapple farmers benefit from early cultivation

Farmers in Rangamati have inclined to an early cultivation of pineapples - the most popular and highest yielding seasonal fruit in the hills - for the past few years as they have been making good profits from them. This year, wholesalers hope sales will be better as demand for citrus fruits has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country. Usually, pineapple is cultivated between June and July but for the last few years, it has been cultivated during January and February. Farmers from various upazilas of the district bring pineapples to the district town in motorized boats and supply them all over the country through wholesalers. Sajib Chakma from Naniarchar upazila has produced 20,000 pineapple saplings. Last Wednesday, he brought 3,000 pineapples to the weekly market and sold each pineapple at Tk9. "Since we don't get good prices during the season, we cultivate early now," he said. Ramesh Chakma, a pineapple grower in Sapchhari area of ​​Sadar upazila, said he ...