Pineapple growers of NC Hills hit

HAFLONG, Feb 12 – The pineapple growers of NC Hills district have expressed serious concern over the insufficient marketing facilities and transportation across the district. This year the pineapple growers have expected production of pineapple to be more than 10 lakhs pieces. But due to lack of communication facilities, their earning may be less as they might have to sell their products at a lower rate. As the pineapples are easily perishable, the traders from outside the district will take the full advantage of the helpless sitaution of the farmers and purchase the pineapple at a cheaper rate, depriving the farmers their dues. Moreover the communication network is in a pitiable state, the farmers cannot send or export their product outside the district. Few years back, a growers’ association was formed to monitor the grievances of the growers, which also turned out to be defunct, alleged a grower. The growers further alleged that the government neither took any effective step to promote horticulture in the district nor it encouraged the farmer. He further alleged that no grower has received any assistance from the concerned department. Initially, the production was less and was sold locally, but as the production is being increase every year it has now become essential to export pineapples to other parts of the State. But inconvenient transportation stands as a major hindrance in the process. The conscious citizen of NC Hills observed that if proper steps were not taken immediately the growers would soon be in the grips of poverty.