Taking initiatives of pineapple farmers and traders of Jiribam district who are suffering immensely due to ongoing pandemic and lockdown, the directorate of horticulture and soil said it will buy pineapple under the instruction of the chief minister N Biren Singh.
Speaking in a press meet held at the directorate of horticulture and soil, director N Joymati Devi said that due to the pandemic and lockdown farmers and traders of Jiribam district were suffering immensely despite the availability of pineapples in abundance. One of the unions Barak Brothers’ Union has appealed to the chief minister to address the matter stating that they had been suffering with no marketplace to sell the pineapple for this season.
Under the instruction of the chief minister, the directorate of horticulture and soil will buy 100 metric tonnes of pineapple from Jiribam farmers and traders, out of 400 metric tonnes they produce. Pineapple will cost 15-16 per kilogram. Joymati has urged all food processing units, agencies or suppliers to buy the pineapple from the directorate of horticulture and soil.
Project director Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) K Debadutta Sharma also announced ‘revolving the fund of 3 crore’ for supply market chain as market intervention for perishable horticulture products. He said due to pandemic and lockdown, surplus products were being wasted and it may cause a huge effect on the market and business economy.
From Wednesday, organic outlets of different products from different hill districts will be open near Sanjenthong, he said. He further informed that Manipur Organic Mission Agency is gearing up for 12,000 tonnes of processing pineapples to support producers.
