Farmers are very happy with the bumper yield and 'good' prices this year. Pieneapples, jackfruits and mangoes started arriving in markets since mid-May and it will continue till mid-July.

A pair of big size pineapple is sold at Tk 12 to 15. Indigenous varieties of mango are available at Tk 25 to Tk 30 a kilogram and an average size jackfruit is sold at around Tk 25. Traders from different areas of the country and local retail buyers said the prices are high.

Prices of pineapples and jackfruit were reasonably higher last year also due to less production due to drought. Prices are yet to come down this year.

While this correspondent talking to some consumers, they said that the prices of seasonal fruits are high due to excess marketing of these fruits by the middlemen outside the district this year.

Growers coming from different areas told this correspondent that they are getting good prices of fruits this year

Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said the yield this year would be nearly double that of last year in the hills due to adequate rainfall and favourable weather.

Over 1700 hectares of land were brought under pineapples cultivation this year, which is slightly higher than last year, DAE officials said.

At least 51,3,50 tonnes of pineapple have been produced against last year's 25,6,48 tonnes, they said. The output per hectare this year was 16.42 tonnes whereas it was 15.5 tonnes last year.

They said around 7,6,000 tonnes of jackfruit were produced in gardens covering 3,037 hectares against 7, 3,000 tonnes last year.

Production of mangos and litchis is also almost double that of last year, DAE sources said.

Two varieties of pineapple--Jalpuri and Honey Queen--are mainly grown in Chittagong Hill Tracts as they are popular among consumers.

"I got only Tk 12,000 by cultivating pineapples on four acres of land last year. I have already earned Tk 12,000 and expect more Tk 10,000 this year", said Durbachchamoni Chakma of Alutila village, three kilometers from the district town.

Subashya Chaka of Noadam village said, "I got only Tk 7000 from five acres last year due to drought. This year, hope I will get about Tk 20,000. I have sold 2000 pineapples and jackfruits for Tk 10,000".

The soil and climate of CHT are suitable for cultivation of seasonal fruits like pineapple, jackfruit, litchi and mango but that needs motivation and government support.

More farmers are now inspired to raise orchards as it is more profitable than Jhum cultivation, farmers said.

Commercial cultivation of fruits started in the hills about a decade ago, DAE sources said.