Pineapple Production and Its Marketing Channels in Bangladesh: Present Status, Prospects and Challenges

Abstract

Pineapple production offers a unique opportunity for the farmers due to the favorable climatic conditions in Bangladesh. Consequently, pineapple cultivation in Bangladesh round the year, has picked up on quite a large scale. The nutritional condition of Bangladeshi individuals who are severely malnourished may be improved by pineapple. Pineapple cultivation is trending upward. Producing pineapples on the same site benefits farmers significantly more than growing other crops. Also, high return in comparison to other existing crops, easy cultivation process, possibility of intercropping, favorable weather condition are the main reasons behind its increasing production. Growing demand for chemical-free farm fresh pineapples among consumers has led farmers to pursue balanced use of pesticides and ripening agents. However, the demand for fertilizers and other chemicals has been increasing. Despite the fact that farming has grown highly lucrative, there are apparently many marketing and production related challenges that farmers must overcome. It is necessary to enhance Bangladesh's pineapple production and marketing system for the benefit of both producers and consumers, as it is ineffective and disorganized. Policymakers, extension agents, researchers and other actively involved marketing professionals should provide feedback to enhance their approach for raising future fair pricing by increasing production and marketing effectiveness. Infrastructure and technological investments, marketing channel diversification, farmer capacity building, supportive legislative reforms and enhanced market intelligence systems to boost competitiveness should all be included in sustainable pineapple farming methods, which can make pineapple farming more profitable.