Photo : BSS

SHERPUR, May 13, 2025 (BSS) - Farmers in the Garo Hills are increasingly turning to commercial pineapple cultivation, attracted by its high yield and promising profit margins.

Despite damage to paddy and other crops caused by wild elephant attacks, many farmers have found success with pineapple farming.

Encouraged by its potential, farmers in Sribardi, Jhenaigati, and Nalitabari upazilas have begun cultivating pineapple on a commercial scale, hoping to secure better income.

Farmers said that with proper government support, thousands of acres of fallow land in the Garo Hills could be brought under pineapple cultivation-offering a new ray of hope for the region's agricultural future.

In 2023, Johnson Mrong cultivated pineapple experimentally on 50 decimals of land in Bankakura, Jhenaigati upazila, spending Taka 50,000.
After selling the pineapples, he made a profit of Taka 50,000 excluding his expenses.

Later, he cultivated pineapple on 100 decimals of land, and he is hopeful of getting a profit of over Taka 1.5 lakh this year.

Nazrul Islam, 40, a visitor who came to see the pineapple garden, said, "I live in Islampur in the neighbouring district of Jamalpur. Being informed by a friend, I came to see and eat sweet pineapples."

YouTuber Farhana Prema, 35, said, "It is truly incredible that so many sweet pineapples have been cultivated in Sherpur too. If the farmers get support from the district agriculture department, thousands of acres of fallow land in the Garo Hills will come under pineapple cultivation."

Local farmer Kumendra Mrong, 45, said, "It is difficult to cultivate paddy and vegetables in the hilly areas due to the attack of wild elephants. Since pineapple is a thorny fruit, it is possible to make a profit by cultivating pineapples in the hilly areas, as elephants are afraid of thorns."
 
Farmer Anthony Marak, 42, said, "Although the size is small, these pineapples are very tasty and sweet. The potential for commercial pineapple cultivation in the Garo Hills is increasing day by day."

"We can see a large number of visitors are coming from Sherpur and surrounding districts. They are buying pineapples from the fields and taking them for their family members."
"I will also cultivate pineapples on 1 acre of land next year, and we are hopeful that the farmers in the bordering hilly areas will benefit economically from pineapple cultivation, he said.

Pineapple farmer Jansong Mrong, 50, said that in 1993, he gained experience in pineapple cultivation for the first time in Madhupur, Tangail. Later, in 2023, he returned to Sherpur and cultivated pineapple experimentally.

He said that his current profit from pineapple cultivation is high. If any farmer is interested in growing pineapples, he is willing to provide seedlings and guidance.

Jhenaigati Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Ashraful Alam Russell said that after seeing the success in pineapple cultivation in the Garo Hills, this cultivation is now being spread to Nalitabari and Sribardi.
 
However, if measures are taken to prevent wild elephant attacks, the hilly region of Sherpur will become one of the main pineapple-producing regions of the country.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain told BSS that the soil of Sribardi, Nalitabari and Jhenaigati upazilas is suitable for pineapple cultivation.
 
The agriculturalist said that the farmers need advice and support in cultivating this high-value fruit.