Present Status of Pineapple Cultivation in Bangladesh: Case of Madhupur Tract

Abstract

The main focus of this research was to explore the present status of pineapple cultivation in Madhupur tract of Bangladesh. Primary data were collected using a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire by face-to-face interviews from a sample of 300 pineapple growers and two focus group discussions were also carried out from March to May 2022. According to the study findings majority (51%) of the respondents cultivate pineapple in their own land having medium experience (53.3%), followed mixed cropping pattern (89%) where 25.33 percent respondent cultivate banana as companion crop. ‘Calendar’ is the top most cultivated variety of pineapple in Madhupur tract. Majority of the respondent use balanced pesticide and ripening agent due to increasing demand of chemical free farm fresh pineapple among consumers. Higher profit compared to other crops (82.00 %) was the main reason for producing pineapple in the study area. Majority (26.67%) of the respondent followed (Grower- Faria- Bepari- Aratdar- Wholesaler- Retailer- Consumers) channel among the six dominant marketing channels to market their produced pineapple. The results of SWOT analysis revealed that weakness of pineapple cultivation in Madhupur tract have the potential to improve. If the government and other policy making organizations come forward to solve the problems arising in pineapple cultivation, then the position of pineapple as fruit will be consolidated soon in home and abroad.