Kottayam: Pineapple is in good demand and has a decent market price, but farmers in Kerala are struggling with a lorry shortage to transport the fruit to northern India.

It may be noted that many lorries sent from Kerala to bring onions from North India also carried pineapples from the state to markets in Delhi, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. However, due to rise in onion prices, fewer lorries are heading north. As a result, there are not enough lorries to transport pineapples from Kerala.

NA Soman, a pineapple farmer, mentioned that the situation worsened during Diwali, as many lorry drivers took leave at the same time, making transport even harder.

Onion prices
In Maharashtra, onions are priced at Rs 120 per kilogram in retail, while the wholesale price in Nashik is Rs 85.

Heavy rains in October have reduced onion supply by 20%. 

More lorries are expected to be available after the next onion harvest in December, which should help with pineapple transport.

Pineapple prices
At present, ripe pineapples cost Rs 46 per kilogram, while raw pineapples are priced at Rs 40 per kilogram. In September, the price had reached Rs 55. 

Farmers say these prices are fair, but the hot weather in March and April caused a 40% drop in production. A shortage of pineapple plantlets is also affecting the farmers.