Chemicals ruining Madhupurs legendary pineapples
Golam Samdani
Fruit cultivation is playing a significant role in the Bangladesh economy and fruit production, including that of pineapple, is increasing steadily. Among all the fruits produced in the country, pineapple ranks 4th in terms of total cropping area and production.
Pineapple is being grown in about 90 countries of the world. But those produced in Bangladesh are said to be more juicy, succulent and appetizing compared to those of many other countries. Agriculturists say pineapple farming has a bright prospect in the country.
About two lakh metric tonnes (MTs) of pineapples have been grown in Madhupur, which is 42 per cent of the countrys total production, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Chemical overdose
Citing some problems this sector faces, Nayeb Ali, a pineapple farmer of Mohishmara village, said, First, chemical is used before flowering. Then, after 20-22 days, chemicals are sprayed again for the second time. Carbide is sprayed after that to aid ripening. The fruits become big in size and acquire a yellowish colour, features that attract buyers.
But he added: The use of chemicals poses a health hazard and the fruit loses its taste; yet to earn profits, I apply chemicals to pineapples.
Babul Mia from Pirijpur village said, The chemicals help to ripen the fruits simultaneously. So, all the fruits can be harvested at a time for marketing. Without the chemicals, pineapples ripen slowly, making marketing difficult.
He named the chemicals currently in use. Farmers use Pronofix, Superfix, Crops care, and Adur to make the fruits big, and chemicals such as Ripen, Harvest, Promot, Saragold, Itiplus, and Alpen to hasten the ripening process. The chemicals are available in every haat, bazaar and village of the pineapple-growing areas. Gorvoboti is a new ingredient added this year. It makes even immature plants yield fruits.
Sabur Uddin, a grower in Chunia village, said, We did not use chemicals 10 years ago. Pineapples of Madhupur used to have a good taste and flavour. Jackals, dogs, and wild beasts ate the pineapples, bees collected nectar. Now, no animal eats pineapples. Pineapple is not juicy; rather it is full of water.
Size matters
Sanower Hossain, a pineapple trader, said, The size of pineapples remains small and lacks bright colour unless chemicals are used. Such pineapples are not liked by the consumers. So, farmers are forced to use chemicals to attract buyers.
He said that the administration took no step to stop the sale and use of harmful chemicals, adding that the sale of the fruit ultimately declines, as buyers, disappointed with the taste, chose not to buy again.
Mohammad Mustafa, a chemical-seller, said, Farmers use excessive doses of chemicals. Two ml of chemicals should be mixed in 16 litres of water before spraying, but farmers use 100ml to get big fruits.
Dr Abdus Samad, a kidney specialist, said, The use of excess chemicals can affect the lever, kidney, vocal cord and other limbs. It can cause cancer and other fatal diseases, too.
Mahmudul Hasan, Madhupurs agriculture officer, said, The chemical companies sell one kind of hormone in different names. A pineapple plant naturally matures when it attains 60 leaves. But farmers are using the hormone, Gorvoboti, as soon as the the plant gets 28 leaves. Hormone for growth is not harmful. But its excessive use and ripening hormones are harmful.
Hormone technology
Dr Nazim Uddin and Dr Abul Kashem of BARC, Gazipur, conducted a research on the use of hormone technology on the pineapples of Madhupur in 1990-1995. The research revealed that the adoption of hormone technology enabled pineapple production round the year or during off-peak seasons to suit growers wishes.
According to DAE source, in the current season, an estimated 18,800 acres of land have been brought under pineapple farming in Tangail district, of which 16,676 acres are in Madhupur Upazila alone.
But consumers are being cheated, as harmful insecticide, hormones, carbide, formalin and various chemicals are applied to pineapple, a cash crop.
About 15 per cent of the pineapples are being damaged because of being harvested during the rainy season. Pineapples can be harvested out of season by using the hormone technology.
The two scientists had fixed the hormone dose after five to six years of research, keeping in mind Bangladeshs climatic conditions. But the indiscriminate use of the hormone is having adverse effects.
According to the DAE, some 460,611 metric tonnes of pineapples were grown in the country last year. Out of total, 2,03,820 MT were produced in Tangail1,95,000 MT in Madhupur Upazila alone90,820 MT in Bandorbon, 54,208 MT in Rangamati, 49,353 MT in Mymensingh, 19,660 in Moulovibazar, and 19,480 MT in Khagrachori district.
Farmer Abdul Aziz of Ghatail Upazila said that farmers were not aware of things like hormone and formalin, but only knew of chemicals, which they used in excess doses. It appeared from what he said that the chemical companies pressed the farmers to use the harmful chemicals.
Tribal leader of Madhupur Ajoy A Mree said because of an excessive use of chemicals, fertilizers and insecticides, jackals, other animals and insects do not eat the ripe pineapple in the field any more.
Romendra Nath Biswas, UNO of Madhupur, told The Independent that traders and farmers openly spray the chemicals. Upazila administration conducted several anti-adulteration drives and seized the spray machines and fined the farmers.
Ajoy Mree said that Dr Mobarok Ahmed of the Atomic Energy Commission had invented Tritrison, a product safe for humans that prevents damage to pineapples. He applied this in the pineapple field of Abdul Mannan of village Idilpur of Madhupur Upazila this year and got positive results.
UNO, Madhupur, told The Independent that the administration planned to popularise new chemicals among the farmers to restore Madhupurs pineapple heritage.
Losses incurred
This year, farmers incurred losses due to rainfall, floods, and improper use of chemicals. The production cost of one unit of pineapple is Tk 15 including Tk 3 for transportation, Tk 1 for harvesting, Tk 1 for transplantation, Tk 3 for sapling, and Tk 8 for land, chemicals, and nursing. Moreover, a farmer has to surrender 3 percent of the fruits as shola (extra benefit) to the buyer, pay commission to middlemen, tolls and meet other expenses.
Many fruits are damaged in the fields. Babul Mia told The Independent that growers incurred losses this year.
UAO Mahmudul Hasan said, Pineapples of Madhupur will be exported next year. Hortex Foundation will export them after processing the pineapples of Madhupur. Farmers will get a fair price, if the fruits are exported.
Local growers, however, said pineapples were already being exported to Jordan, China, and India, though in minimal quantities.
Alok Kumer Chowdhury of Madhupur visited India recently. At the Howrah railway station he saw a vendor selling pineapples by loudly announcing them to be pineapples of Madhupur.
Chowdhury walked up to the vendor, inspected the pineapples and was confirmed that the fruits were indeed from Madhupur, in Bangladesh.
He felt proud of the fact that a Bangladeshi product was selling briskly in India. But he is now disappointed to learn that the pineapples of Madhupur are losing their charm because of excessive use of chemicals by growers and traders.
Farmers said the life cycle of a pineapple was determined by hormone for bigger size, carbide for quick ripening and formalin for preservation.
Pineapple is a cash crop in Bangladesh. Lakhs of farmers, farm labourers, transports owners, workers, and traders are employed in the pineapple trade.
Madhupur is the largest pineapple growing area in Bangladesh. It drew the consumers attraction because of its pineapples extraordinary taste. But the past glory of the Madhupur pineapple is currently on the wane.
