Structural Changes and Productivity Dynamics of Pineapple Cultivation in Manipur, India

Abstract

Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) is an important horticultural crop in Northeast India and contributes to rural livelihoods and the regional economy. This study assessed structural changes and productivity dynamics in pineapple cultivation in Manipur using secondary time-series data for 2011–12 to 2023–24. Changes in cultivated area, production, and productivity were examined through descriptive statistics, compound annual growth rate, linear trend regression, comparative period assessment, and index analysis. The cultivated area recorded a compound annual growth rate of −0.87%, whereas production and productivity increased by 0.62% and 1.51% per year, respectively. Linear trend regression indicated a significant positive trend in productivity (R² = 0.525), while the trends in area (R² = 0.255) and production (R² = 0.068) were weaker. Comparison of the early period (2011–12 to 2018–19) with the recent period (2019–20 to 2023–24) showed that average cultivated area declined by 8.68%, while average production and productivity increased by 6.05% and 16.40%, respectively. The index analysis similarly showed that productivity remained above its base-year level despite the contraction in cultivated area. Collectively, the results indicate that pineapple production in Manipur has increasingly been sustained by productivity improvement rather than land expansion. Continued attention to productivity-enhancing practices and efficient resource management is therefore important for maintaining production under limited land availability.