Tripura border fencing robs pineapples of their biggest mkt
The erection of barbed wire fencing in Tripura along the 865-km-long border with Bangladesh has enhanced security, but has led to the decline of age-old pineapple cultivation in the state.
July 09, 2012 / 13:06 IST
The erection of barbed wire fencing in Tripura along the 865-km-long border with Bangladesh has enhanced security, but has led to the decline of age-old pineapple cultivation in the state.
The fencing has robbed the state's thriving pineapple cultivation of its predominant market - Bangladesh. Tripura is one of the leading pineapple-growing states in the Northeast with the total production estimated at around 117531 MT during 2010-11.A pineapple trader said, "When the border was open, we used to sell pineapples in Bangladesh which gave us good returns. But after the fencing came up, unofficial trade was stopped." This fact was corroborated by the superintendent of the Horticulture Department in Sonamura sub-division, where the fruit is grown in plenty, Bimal Das.In desperation, many pineapple growers have switched to rubber cultivation, which, they claimed, is paying them good dividends. Wakhiram Tripura, a pineapple cultivator at Jumerdepha village in Sipahijala district, now grows rubber in his pineapple orchard and says it fetches more money than pineapples did.The picturesque village on the hillocks, surrounded by forests, was once famous for the production of the world famous 'Queen' variety of pineapple, and is now slowly turning into a rubber growing region. Wakhiram produces rubber in one hectare of land which brings him about Rs 30,000 per month, which is three times the money earned through selling pineapples. "It is difficult for me to run my family with the money earned from pineapple sale, whereas rubber gives us the wherewithal for a decent living," Wakhiram said. Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
