CORAPUT: Traders from Raipur, Ranchi and New Delhi have made the road to pineapple planted by Dongria Konds, a very vulnerable group (PVTG), in Ringgada District.
Official sources say tribes now sell every part of the fruit between Rs 20 and Rs 25, which around Rs 10 is higher than last year’s price, because there is a large demand for pineapple in North India.
Dongria Kondhs fostered pineapple in an organic way, said Collector (Rayagada) Saroj Kumar Mishra.
Most importantly, contrary to previous years, when Dongia Konds used to go down the hill with their products to sell it in Chatikona where ordinary traders carry fruit by train, this year the traders went to their door because of restrictions on the train movement during Locking.
“This has saved the transportation costs of the tribes they spend to drop their products to Chatikona from villages spread in Hill Niyamgiri,” said Sudarshan Padhi, Project Manager, Empowerment of PVTG Odisha and a livelihood repair program, Rayaganada.
With a conducive climate condition, pineapple is grown by more than 700 hectares by Dongria Konds who are in and around the hill of Niyamgiri.
About 8,000 to 10,000 pineapple rs are harvested from hectares after three years of planting it.
While the hygiene season for pineapple cultivation is September-October, the harvest season and trade come from June-August.
“At present, the tribes sell pineapple with profit.
All steps have been taken by the administration to ensure that there is no sale of distress,” Collector said.
The official source said civil construction work for the recent pineapple juice making unit and orders had been placed for the installation of machines.
“Once, the pineapple juice making unit becomes operational, it will further improve the tribal economy through the addition of values and will produce employment opportunities for the community,” the collector said.
Pineapple planted by tribes found by traders
