Silchar: In Barak Valley, pineapple growers are seeking better markets while tea estates are being encouraged to diversify into oil palm.Minister Pijush Hazarika on Thursday urged tea estates to use up to 5% of their land for oil palm cultivation as part of the state’s crop diversification drive. He also announced plans to improve irrigation and marketing facilities to boost pineapple production.Hazarika, accompanied by minister Kaushik Rai and legislators Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha and Kishor Nath, visited pineapple plantations at Hmarkhawlien in Cachar’s Lakhipur constituency and reviewed oil palm cultivation at Dewan Tea Estate.Addressing a pineapple growers’ convention at Hmarkhawlien, Hazarika stressed the need to expand cultivation, strengthen marketing networks and ensure remunerative prices.Nearly 5,000 farming families in the area depend on pineapple cultivation. Hmarkhawlien is known for its Kew variety, which has high sugar content and commercial potential. Pineapple orchards also extend across Rajabazar, Lakhipur and Binnakandi.Hazarika interacted with growers, heard their grievances and assured them of govt support to improve production and market access.At a review meeting at the Cachar deputy commissioner’s office, he said irrigation infrastructure would be improved to raise agricultural productivity. He reiterated govt’s commitment to strengthening Barak Valley’s farm economy through crop diversification, better infrastructure and improved marketing facilities.
