29-05-2025
Heavy rain takes a toll on pineapple farmers
Thousands of pineapple farmers, already reeling from a steep price fall, are seeing the situation worsen with heavy rain triggering crop loss, further price drop, and possible outbreak of plant diseases caused by excess moisture.
'The fruit farmers have experienced a steep fall in prices over the last 20 to 25 days. The price has dropped to just over ₹20 for the best-quality raw fruit, while there are no takers for ripe fruits in the local market,' said Jobin K. Joy from Vazhakulam.
While green fruit was selling for ₹21–23 a kg, ripe fruit fetched only ₹13–15. Even at these low prices, there was no guarantee of buyers this week, said Mr. Joy, who feared that the shrinking demand would soon dry up, leaving pineapple farmers at the mercy of the market.
Most of the pineapple-growing areas in the district received about 39% more rain than usual between March 1 and May 28. The normal rainfall is 366.8 mm, while the actual rain received during the period was 509.3 mm, according to the India Meteorological department data. The situation in other fruit-growing areas like Idukki and Kottayam is no better, with rainfall exceeding normal levels.
Pineapple farmer and merchant Joe Joseph said that with rain hitting even some north Indian States, demand for the fruit had plummeted. Only the best-quality raw fruits were now in demand, he added. He also pointed out that within another fortnight, the impact of the heavy rain in the State would likely be visible in plantations in the form of possible plant diseases.
Mr. Jobin said that heavy rain could lead to rot in plants as well as fungal diseases in the immediate future. This would affect the coming crop season plunging farmers into further trouble, he added.
He also said that a steep drop in the prices of other fruits like mangoes and watermelon in the local market had turned buyers away from pineapple, which was now relatively more expensive despite the surplus production.
