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Time of India

Cachar pineapple farmers seek govt support to overcome infra hurdles

Silchar: Pineapple farmers in Assam's Barak Valley are seeking urgent govt intervention to overcome infrastructural hurdles and tap into broader markets. A delegation of local growers from Hmarkhawlien and nearby orchards met chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and agriculture minister Atul Bora in Dispur, highlighting key challenges and future prospects. The farmers, representing around 5,500 residents of Hmarkhawlien, Labankhal, Molong, and Sonbari in Cachar district, emphasised the need for improved transportation, market sheds, and direct links to international markets. They also called for the establishment of cold storage facilities and a dedicated pineapple processing unit to add value and expand market reach. The meeting, facilitated by Barak Valley development minister Kaushik Rai, saw participation from local producers including Manthan Hmar, Maniton Singha, and Makhan Lal Dusadh. After returning to Silchar, the delegation credited Rai for initiating dialogue with top officials. "We shared our issues, especially the lack of proper infrastructure and market facilities," Maniton Singha told the media on Friday. "CM Sarma and agriculture minister Bora assured us of swift action, instructing departments to explore infrastructural solutions," he said. Dusadh, a prominent local producer, highlighted that pineapples from Hmarkhawlien are already reaching markets across Assam, the northeast, and other Indian states. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo "Our pineapples even gained international recognition at a trade fair in Dubai, receiving excellent feedback," he said. Looking ahead, the farmers plan to diversify into processing value-added pineapple products such as jams, jellies, and juices. Dusadh appealed to the govt to support efforts to increase local market value and generate rural employment through agri-based industries. Notably, Hmarkhawlien's pineapples are renowned for their exceptional sweetness, cultivated on hill slopes along the Assam-Manipur border. The region's 1,800-acre orchard was established in 1932 by Welsh Baptist Pastor James Roberts, who imported saplings from Tripura. Thanks to innovative farming methods, the sugar content of these pineapples now ranges between 16 and 18 percent — the highest in the northeast.