Pineapple ‘very sweet’ variety to give potential hope for Kerala Farmers
More than 10,000 hectares of pineapple cultivation are estimated to exist in Kerala. Farmers are considering the potential of a pineapple variety that has yet to be named locally and is marketed as “very sweet,” suitable for mechanized processing, and possibly with a longer shelf life than the conventional Mauritius variety widely cultivated in the state.
Farmers have been drawn to the new variety due to the possibility of mechanized processing for value addition and export. The Mauritius variety is difficult to process. According to a pineapple researcher, processing losses can range from 35% to 40%. However, it has additional characteristics, such as being more hardy, making it easier to handle while transporting to markets in other parts of the country.
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According to a veteran farmer in Muvattupuzha, the fruit is larger and weighs between 2.5 and 2.7 kg. Its shelf life will be determined. He added that only more extensive cultivation and testing can provide a firm conclusion on its merits.
Price Drop
Meanwhile, the price of pineapple has remained low. As of Wednesday, the price of best-quality green, which is usually exported to upcountry markets, was ruling at Rs 23 to Rs 25 per kg, while the price of ripe variety, which is mostly sold in the Kerala market, was ruling between Rs 22 and Rs 24 per kg.
The formation of the Vazhakulam Pineapple Farmer Producer Company has given farmers renewed hope in the face of a price drop.
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