MOI 1VIBA7AR. July 6: A pro longed Ink spell followed by floods badly hit pineapple production in Moulvibazar and Sylhet districts this season.

Moulvibazar district is well known for pineapple cultivation, providing employment to over 55 thousand people Including farmers, traders and labourers

Pineapples harvesting is now at its peak. The markets of the main pineapple producing areas of the country — Moulvibazar and Sylhet have already become crowded w ith the sellers and buyers from different parts of the country .

rhe prices of pineapples have increased this season due to fall of production and comparatively high demand at home and abroad. Three best species of pineapples are now selling between faka 500 and 1050 per 100 in the whole sate market at Srimang.il under Mouhihazar district

In Moulvibazar district alone, over 22 crore pineapples are pro duced year on 21 thousand acres of land. Of this. 19 crore pineapples are produced on 20 thousand acres of land under Srimangal and Kamalganj thanas. The rest three crore are pro duced on 2000 acres under Sadar. Kulaura, Baralekha and Rajnagar thanas.

'Msti' or ’honey-queen' pineap pies are known for their taste.

or junt-que' are big in size weighing to 5 to i kg each.

But due to hot spell and dry weather in the district between ManTi and May this y ear, pineapples have grown smaller in size and have ripen earlier titan die usual lime.

Pineapples are cultivated in i Moulvibazar on commercial basis. The earning from this Is more than dut from any other crops in the area. Ilx liilly land is suitable lor pineappk-cultivation.

Pineapple garden owners, how ever, say tliat cultivation of the fruit is ixm becoming risky due to lack of proper marketing system as well as absence of facilities like cold-Mor age. transportation etc. Every sea son, a huge quality of pineapples are damaged. The growers say they are cultivating tills fruit without any help fmm llx authorities concerned.