CM responds to distress call of pineapple farmers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 04 2020: In a swift response to the call of the pineapple farmers of Bunglon and Khousabung in Churachandpur district, Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) under the instruction of Chief Minister, has started facilitating procurement of pineapples from Bunglon farmers.

Significantly The Sangai Express had carried a story in the August 3 edition highlighting the plight of the pineapple farmers of the Churachandpur district following the COVID-induced lockdown.

CM responds to distress call of pineapple farmers

Coming to the rescue of these aggrieved farmers, the Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister, had instructed the department concerned to do the needful.

Subsequently, MOMA has started facilitating Manipur Agro Industries Corporation Private Limited in procuring pineapples grown from Bunglon farmers from today onwards.

The procured pineapples were made available at Churachandpur bazar and nearby markets.

Meira Foods, through MOMA, has also started procuring pineapples from the Bunglon and Khousabung farmers.

The pineapple farmers of Bunglon and Khousabung also expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for his deep consideration and timely action to ensure their produce is not wasted.

The farmers were extremely worried with the ripening of pineapples and imposition of the second phase of the complete lockdown which has hindered transportation and business of their products badly.

As such, the farmers, who also do not have proper and adequate storage facilities, had appealed to the Government to intervene and mitigate their suffering.

In the meantime, Langmeithet Youth Development Association (LYDA), has also thanked the Chief Minister for paying heed towards the call of the pineapple growers of Langmeithet areas.

With restrictions owing to the lockdown, the farmers in association with LYDA, have appealed to the Government on July 27 to take up necessary steps so that their crops are not left to ruin and farmers are not put into further misery, a statement of LYDA said.

With the intervention of the Chief Minister and MOMA, co-founder of Krooshi Karam Naturals Private Limited, Kangchup, Wilson paid a visit to the site where pineapples are grown and bought around 2000 pineapples from the farmers, it said.

Appreciating Wilson for helping the farmers from incurring a huge loss, LYDA also exuded confidence that he will help the farmers who are left with no means to sell their produce in the coming days.