Horticulture Department to buy 100 MT pineapples
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 30 2020: The Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department is buying 100 MT of pineapples from farmers in Jiribam, said N Joymati, Director of the Department.

Speaking to media persons at the Sanjenthong office of the Department, Joymati said the pineapples are being bought to help the farmers who are unable to market their produces amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

Stating that the Department is procuring the produces following the advice of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Joymati said the Department is buying the pineapples from the farmers at Rs 15/Rs 16 per kilogram.

Annually, farmers in Jiribam produce around 400 MT of pineapples and they sell them at markets outside the State.

Due to COVID-19 lockdown, the farmers are now facing unprecedented problems and are unable to find market for their produces.

They fear that their produces will rot and decay, said Joymati appealing the suppliers, food processing units to buy the produces from the Department.

Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA), State Mission Director K Devdutta Sharma said that the Department has already conducted a survey of the farmers at Jiribam following the advice of the Chief Minister.

During the survey, the Department identified as many as 80 farmers, he said adding 100 MT of pineapples will be bought from the farmers.

Emphasising that the farmers are facing immense hardship due to lack of market amid COVID-19 lockdown, he said there is a need for a proper marketing and supply chain that will help the Department and authorities concerned procure the farmers' produces, store and preserve them for further sales.

The Department has sent a proposal of Rs 3 crore for instituting such a system, he said.

This year, farmers under MOMA (Manipur Organic Mission Agency) are estimated to produce about 12,000 MT of pineapples while the processing units in the State will consume about 1000 metric ton maximum, he said adding the Department is taking up all necessary efforts to help the farmers by finding markets for all the 12,000 MT.

He also mentioned that the Department has procured vegetables from farmers in Ukhrul and Pherzawl districts and the produces/vegetables will be sold at the Sanjenthong outlet of MOMA tomorrow from 9.30 am .

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