Pineapple farmers in Ernakulam are facing a crisis as prices are falling

According to pineapple farmers, while the market rate is ₹18, the selling price has come down to ₹10 per kilogram. | Photo credit: H. VIBHU

Pineapple growers in this district are facing a serious crisis this year with the price of the fruit falling to a minimum of ₹18 per kilogram. According to farmers, while the market rate is ₹18, the selling price has come down to ₹10 per kilogram.

“Even nobody wants it,” said James George, president of the All Kerala Pineapple Farmers Association. While the price of prime green pineapple has soared to ₹40 per kg, the price of the ripe fruit has fallen sharply in the last two months.

According to farmers, a combination of factors contributed significantly to the disruption of the pineapple market.

“The crisis in West Asia has played a key role, leading to shortages of cooking gas and the closure of restaurants and shops, along with labor shortages caused by an exodus of migrant workers. This, along with changing climate conditions, has led to changes in the flowering and fruiting cycle of the plant, disrupting farmers’ plans and creating a glut in the market,” George said.

Demand for ripe pineapple is limited to the domestic market, especially Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and lack of demand coupled with increased production has led to a fall in prices, growers say. In the last three years, a significant number of farmers have entered the market due to the profitable nature of pineapple cultivation, he added.

Baby John, president of the Pineapple Growers Association, said the group has launched a campaign asking growers to focus on maintaining their existing farms for one year and temporarily avoid starting any new cultivation.

“Once planted, the pineapple gives yield for two to three years. Instead of mobilizing more funds for farm expansion and inadvertently ending up in debt, we ask farmers to take care of their farms and rely on the racoon crop, that is, the crop grown from the shoots of the mother plant. This will help avoid additional expenditure on fertilizers and labor costs. Mr. John alone can provide a good crop of rats.

Dominic George, 66, who has been growing pineapples in Vazhakkulam for around 35 years, said it was the first time prices had remained low for such a long time. “This time there was a lot of supply and less demand. This is a special period because there are a number of factors affecting prices which have never stayed low for such a long time in the past. However, the market is expected to pick up in two weeks as there will be a shortage of fruit in the future,” Mr George said.

Published – 19 May 2026 22:12 IST