100 MT of pineapples bought
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 05 2020:
The Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation has procured 100 MT of pineapples from farmers in Jiribam.
Of the 100 MT of pineapples, 16 MT reached the MOMA (Manipur Organic Mission Agency) outlet today.
Horticulture and Soil Conservation Director N Joymati and MOMA State Mission Director, K Devdutta Sharma received the consignment at the Sanjenthong outlet.
N Joymati said that the Department bought 100 MT of pineapples from the farmers in Jiribam to ease the hardship they are facing due to lack of market amid the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Department took the step following the advice of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
Jiribam produces about 400 MT of pineapples a year and the farmers generally exported the produces to neighbouring States.
With markets shut due to the coronavirus pandemic this season, the farmers have been facing immense hardship.
The department intervened to help the farmers and save the produces from perishing/rotting, she said.
Stating that the remaining consignment of the pineapples will arrive at the MOMA outlet soon, N Joymati said interested entrepreneurs and food processing units may approach MOMA to buy the pineapples at the rate of Rs 16 per Kg (without transportation charge) .
With transportation charges, the pineapples may be bought at Rs 18/kg or 19/kg, she added.
Meanwhile, out of the 16 MT of pineapples received today, 6 MT and 2 MT have been procured by Likla and Meira Foods respectively, she said adding the remaining will be stored at the cold storage facility of the Manipur Food Industries Corporation Limited at Food Park, Nilakuthi.
MOMA State Mission Director, K Devdutta Sharma said that the produces (pineapples) were procured in line with a market intervention scheme which is implemented following the advice of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
Stating that the Department is taking up all efforts to establish a healthy marketing supply chain to help the farmers and ease their burden, Devdutta said the department is planning to airlift and export pineapples to other States next year.
The department is also taking up steps to procure other perishable produces (crops) from farmers to ease their burden and find suitable markets, he said.