Pineapple production is rising year after year in the hilly areas of Sunamganj. Farmers are profiting, and the economy of these remote areas has begun to change. This season about Tk 16 crore worth of pineapples will be produced from the hill areas alone.

Hasaura is a quiet, shady village dotted with countless hillocks, where birds chirp in every tree and elephants roam freely carrying their owners on their backs, followed by children. Once nobody knew this hilly border village, but it has now become known for its juicy pineapples.

Hasaura is in Rangarchar union of Sunamganj Sadar upazila. People in four neighbouring villages besides Hasaura also grow pineapples. Across Hasaura, Pechakona, Banaigaon, Darpagram and Mathgaon there are more than a hundred fallow hillocks, running from Hasaura to Mathgaon. More than 200 farmers in the five villages grow pineapples, but Hasaura is the main centre, which is why "Hasaura pineapples" from Sunamganj are known across the country.

The juicy, fragrant and flavourful hill pineapples have already started reaching markets in Sunamganj town and remote areas. They are selling for Tk 25 to a maximum of Tk 45 each, depending on size.

According to the agriculture department, there are pineapple gardens on more than a hundred hillocks covering about 120 hectares in Hasaura and nearby areas, where more than 200 farmers grow the fruit. Farmers harvest from late May through June. This season the hillocks have produced about 4,000 tonnes of pineapples with a market value of Tk 16 crore. With a better yield than in other years, farmers are smiling, and the good harvest is changing both their fortunes and the grassroots economy of the hill area.

Farmers say they profit greatly by growing pineapples on fallow hillock land, but poor roads and transport cause them various hardships.

Pineapple farmer Monirul Islam said: "At one time nobody knew Hasaura village. By growing pineapples on fallow hill land we have made our village known across the country."

Another farmer, Bahar Mia, said: "The hill soil is very good. That is why people here are profiting from pineapple farming."

Bimal Chandra Som, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said: "Farmers are growing pineapples on fallow hill soil. We always help them. Farmers are profiting from pineapples and the economy of the area is changing too."

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