Fulbaria upazila in Mymensingh is famous for pineapples. After meeting local demand, its pineapples are sold in Dhaka and other districts and upazilas. For several years, however, farmers have been angry at not getting fair prices. Like other years, there is a bumper harvest this year too, and this time farmers are unwilling to take a loss. So chemicals are being sprayed on pineapples at will to ripen them quickly for a good profit, making the fruit toxic and harming buyers. Agriculture officials say farmers are being given advice and guidance on growing toxin-free pineapples.

Local people said pineapples are grown widely in the upazila's Naogaon, Santoshpur, Rangamatia, Krishnapur, Kaladah, Pahar Anantapur and Hatilet areas, as they are this year. In many fields the fruit is still green, in others already ripe. Excessive chemicals are being applied to ripen the green fruit and bring it to market quickly. Although eating these pineapples could seriously harm health, the practice has not stopped.

Farmers say that because they do not know how much chemical to use, they apply as much as they like. This makes all the pineapples in a field ripen quickly at the same time, so a large quantity can be sold to wholesalers at once. Many farmers sold their entire field of green pineapples to wholesalers before the fruit ripened. Dishonest wholesalers are having labourers apply chemicals at will to ripen all the fruit quickly, then selling it in Dhaka and other markets to fill their pockets.

Azizul Islam, a resident of Naogaon village, told Jago News: "Those who planted late now have fully grown pineapples, so harmful chemicals are being applied to excess to ripen and sell them quickly. But with no marketing, processing or storage facilities, growers are being deprived of the profit they hoped for."

Farid Uddin, a pineapple grower in Rangamatia village, said: "Production costs have risen over time, but pineapple prices have not kept pace. So many farmers lose out while wholesalers profit. Many people apply chemicals to pineapples at will, but I consult the agriculture officer and spray pesticide only as needed."

Saidul Islam, another grower in the same village, said: "I sold the pineapples on 2 acres to a wholesaler. The wholesaler is having his workers apply chemicals at will. It is not my fault."

According to the agriculture department, farmers in the upazila grow the Jaldubi, Honey Queen and Calendar varieties. The soil and climate suit pineapples well, so there is a bumper harvest every year. This season pineapples have been grown on 650 hectares, with 20 hectares in Muktagachha upazila and a small area in Bhaluka. As part of a pilot project, 500 pineapples were exported to the United Arab Emirates this season, and larger quantities will be exported to other countries in future. Farmers are being discouraged from using harmful chemicals at will.

Dr Kaushik Deb, medical officer at the upazila health complex, said: "Pineapples contain plenty of vitamins and minerals. Eating any fruit, including pineapples, ripened with excessive chemicals carries a risk of indigestion, gastric problems, diarrhoea, jaundice, liver and kidney disease and other illnesses. So there is no alternative to awareness."

Fulbaria upazila agriculture officer Nur Mohammad said: "Pineapple is considered a profitable crop. Many people sell the pineapples on their entire land to wholesalers before they ripen. Farmers are being told not to use excessive chemicals on pineapples."

Dr Nasrin Akter Banu, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Mymensingh, said: "Many people love eating pineapples. If someone falls ill after eating them, they will not want to eat them again, and buyers will gradually fall away. Pineapples must be produced following the proper rules. Agriculture officials are regularly giving guidance and advice on growing toxin-free pineapples."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.