Hit by two years of successive floods, inclement weather conditions and a fall in prices, pineapple farmers are seeking to establish better storage and marketing facilities at Vazhakkulam, a market more than 50 years old, which is at the centre of the geographical indication registry received by Vazhakkulam pineapple.
Pineapple farmers said the Vazhakkulam market could be improved considerably as the facility runs on the same line as about 50 years ago. “Fruits are kept in the open, there is no roof over the market and there is no storage facility,” said Noble John, a farmer.
Jose Perumpallikunnel, president of All Kerala Pineapple Merchants’ Association, said that though the space availability at the Vazhakkulam market was limited, certain improvements could be brought about. The market was key to pineapple farming and marketing in the country as a whole, he said.
Mr. Jose said the merchants had met Dean Kuriakose, MP, to whom they had submitted a memorandum seeking the Union government’s help for improving facilities. One of the demands raised by the merchants was the setting up of long-term storage facilities at the Vazhakkulam market. He said the MP had assured all help to farmers to improve conditions at the market.
Mr. John said Vazhakkulam was at the centre of the Indian pineapple business, with the price at the market deciding the all-India price of the fruit. He pointed out that the pre-Onam and post-Onam prices had differed considerably due to the shortage of supplies at Vazhakkulam market.
During the peak pineapple season, about 300 tonnes of pineapple arrived at the Vazhakkulam market, said Mr. Jose. He added that current facilities were not enough to meet business requirements.
Meanwhile, farmers have said that the current price of the fruit was not enough to sustain farming. The best quality pineapple now fetches about ₹18 to ₹20 a kg. A remunerative price would be in the vicinity of ₹25 a kg, said Mr. John.
Pineapple farmers have also blamed the failure of the processing plant at Nadukkara, virtually at a standstill now. The plant was established to support farmers by procuring surplus fruit during the peak season and to hold up prices.