Kerala pineapple growers to explore launching value added products through overseas tieups

KOCHI: To get better price for pineapple through value added products, the growers in Kerala are seeking tie-ups with overseas companies.

Kerala produces 3.5 lakh tonnes of pineapple annually with a market value of Rs 750 crore. The Mauritius variety which secured the geographical indication label as Vazhakkulam pineapple is the one largely cultivated.

The state agriculture department, horticulture mission, Kerala pineapple mission and pineapple farmers association are jointly holding a three day festival at Vazhakkulam near Kochi to highlight the need for value added products to help the farmers to tide over the price fluctuations of pineapple for three days from February 5.

Joseph Vazhakkan, MLA, said at present 90% of the fruit are exported in raw form mostly to North Indian markets. Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka are already marketing many value added forms in the world market. The representatives of processing companies of these countries will attend the festival. The prospects for transfer of technology and setting up of units will be explored, Vazhakkan added.

"The idea is to enter into an agreement with these companies to export pineapple from Kerala for producing branded products in their label," said Ismail Rawther, director of Kerala Pineapple Mission. The increasing demand is expected to lift the prices of pineapple further much to the relief of the farmers.

At present the cost of production of pineapple, which is mostly grown as inter-crop in rubber plantations, comes to around Rs 20 per kg. The current retail price is around Rs 25 per kg . "At times the cold weather conditions in North Indian markets pull down the pineapple prices to below cost of production like it happened a few months ago," said Jose Kalappura, president of Pineapple Farmers Association.

The state agriculture minister K P Mohanan will inaugurate the festival while the farmers meet will be inaugurated by food minister Anoop Jacob.