Pineapple from Bandarban is popular all over the country due to its taste, sweetness, aroma and large size,. Due to the favorable weather and good yield, there is a lot of demand in the market due to its large size. As bumper yield of this fruit has been achieved, so the pineapple farmers are selling at a good price.
It is known that pineapple is rich in vitamins A and C, calcium, potassium and phosphorus. These elements play an effective role in filling the nutritional deficiencies of our body. Pineapple also helps in weight loss, as it is high in fiber and low in fat.
This pineapple is cultivated in different areas of the district including Hebran Para of Sadar Upazila, Laimi Para, Faruk Para, Getzimani Para, Bethel Para in Ruma Upazila, Munlai Para and Suanlu Para of Roangchhari Upazila. The wholesalers are taking the pineapple to different places of the country including Dhaka and Chattogram to meet the demand of the locals.
Jinghla Bam, a pineapple farmer in Gatsimani Para on the Bandarban-Thanchi road, said he has planted pineapple on three acres of land. 20, 000 pineapple saplings are planted per acre. It costs one lakh Tk per acre. Now due to good yield and large size, wholesalers are buying it at 35 to 40 Tk per piece. Besides, in the new gardens, one pineapple will be found per tree this year, but he expects to get two pineapples next year.
Lal Hi Bom, a member of Ward No 6 of Suwalak Union, said that he had planted Rangwai mango (Burmese species) and pineapple on a few acres of hilly land. Mangoes are being sold at Tk 300 to Tk 400 per quintal.
However, he hopes that the pineapple will be able to make up for the loss due to its good yield. So many people in the area will start cultivating pineapple from next year, he said. Lal Moon Hall Bom, a pineapple orchard grower in Hebron, said orchard growers would have benefited a lot if cold storage had been set up in Bandarban district.
According to the Bandarban Agriculture Extension Department, pineapple was planted in 4,046 hectares of land in the district last year. Bandarban Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Omar Faruk said that Giant Q pineapple has been cultivated in 225 hectares of land in the upazila and it is expected to yield 5,180 metric tonnes.
Due to its large size, there is a lot of demand. Moreover, pineapple cultivation on the slopes of the hills is a useful and profitable crop and the farmers are inclined towards cultivating this fruit
