Shifting climate pattern inimical to pineapple farming
Source: Chronicle News Service / Ngangom Suraj

Imphal, March 08 2025: The state of Manipur, known for its pleasant climatic condition, lush green forests and availability of varieties of flora and fauna including some of the rarest species in the world, is now experiencing a marked increase in temperature with shorter winter season and unpredictable weather patterns.

Though scientific link to global climate change is yet to be established with precision at present, the shift in climate and rainfall shortages is causing distress to farmers of the state as traditional crops are failing or decreasing yields, thereby making it even more difficult to sustain their livelihood.

Shifting climate pattern inimical to pineapple farming

The tribal pineapple farmers of Thayong village under Lamlai AC and Tamaram Tangkhul village of Ngariyan under Keirao AC are no exception.

Thayong has around 1200 inhabitants and 198 households with pineapple farming as the main occupation.

Roughly 90 percent of the villagers are pineapple growers, while around 530 farmers from 10 villages in the area are cultivating pineapple at Tamaram Tangkhul village.

Interacting with The People's Chronicle, the local farmers informed that pineapple farming started in and around Thayong village after the end of Second World War.

The traditional method of pineapple farming continued till 2015 until Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) intervened.

According to the farmers, pineapple farming is much more viable compared to vegetables and other horticultural crops as it requires less water and can withstand high temperature and drought to some extent.

In addition, once it attains maturity, which can take up to 2 years, a pineapple plant can continue to produce fruits for more than 5 to 6 years.

Unlike other crops which only last for a season or few months and require ploughing each season, pineapple cultivation entails less maintenance as it can be grown at the same site for many years, allowing the farmers earn more profits.

However, extreme and unpredictable weather events such as hail storms that the state has been experiencing in the last few years have become a concern.

As these farmers rely on single crop, the destruction from extreme weather events may severely threaten their livelihood.

The hail storm and heavy rainfall that occurred in May 5, 2024 caused damage to total of 186 acres of pineapple plantation around Tamaram Tangkhul village.

The storm had damaged the entire first crop for the season with the loss estimated at around Rs 50 lakh, the farmers lamented.

They also expressed concern that if similar calamities occur in the future, their traditional livelihood can be affected as many would leave their villages and migrate to cities in search of jobs, leaving behind their tradition and culture.

Experts pointed out that even as pineapple can tolerate a range of climatic conditions, they are not considered a highly climate-resilient crop due to their sensitivity to extreme temperature fluctuations, excessive rainfall and waterlogging, making them vulnerable to climate change impacts like erratic weather patterns and rising temperatures.

Pineapple can thrive in climates with optimal temperature of 15 to 30 degree Celsius, but higher heat stress above 35 degree can significantly affect fruit development and quality.

The fruit can tolerate a range of rainfall, however excessive precipitation can lead to waterlogging, which is detrimental to pineapple growth.

While pineapples have some ability to store water, allowing them to endure short period of drought, prolonged dry months can have negative impact on fruit production.

On the other hand, even if monoculture farming can be efficient for planting, managing and harvesting of crops, it can also be more susceptible to diseases and pest outbreaks.

It can also have many negative effects on the environment including loss of biodiversity, which can disrupt food chain and ecosystem.

A study conducted by Montana State University on monoculture's effect on bees also revealed that monoculture provides bees with one nutrition source which result in poor bee health, causing colony collapse disorder resulting in decrease of colonies and increase in bee death.

As bees pollinate nearly 85 per cent of food crops which helps produce food and preserve biodiversity, less number of bees can also have severe consequences to the environment.

In order to sustain the livelihood of the pineapple farmers and also to preserve their own tradition and culture while also conserving the environment, it is high time that authorities concerned take the matter seriously.

In this case, introduction of climate resilience crops and training for the farmers to adapt to changing climates could be beneficial.