Fruits Market News

Agri Market Prices: Pineapple- Processors keep pineapple farmers floating

Processors procure pineapples in large scale from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka has helped pineapple farmers keep their heads above water in the middle of a long spell of price-fall.

Over the last 45 days, processors from the neighbouring States have procured around 6,000 tonnes of pineapple from Kerala markets, most of it from Vazhakkulam. The processors have been sourcing between six and seven loads of pineapple per day during the short period, says market sources.

A pineapple farmer in Muvattupuzha, Baby John said, the large-scale procurement has helped prop up prices though farmers are hardly getting a remunerative price.

He said that the price of fruit has averaged Rs. 10 a kg now. The cost of cultivation is around Rs. 17 and pointed out that the best grade fruits fetched up to Rs. 14 a kg.

Pineapple price has moved in tandem with the price of other fruits. The price of orange in Kerala this season has hovered between Rs. 20 and 25 a kg, a factor that has helped also to push down the price of pineapple.

Due to the higher production the fall in the price of fruit. Production could be up substantially during the four months starting September. Hence that the total production in the State could go up to about 3.5 lakh tonnes, up from the previous figures of 3.25 lakh tonnes.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/