Pineapple farming is a branch of agriculture that deals with the system of cultivation and production of pineapple fruits for consumption and other industrial uses.
Pineapple farming is really lucrative and sustainable. The plants cant be consumed by goats and most animals so it can be done almost anywhere.
Pineapple is a tropical plant from the Bromeliaceae family. It is a perennial crop which takes about 2-3 years to mature. The plant is a shallow rooted crop which grows up to 3-4 feet tall. It is one of the most popular fruit consumed by most people globally due to its good pleasant taste, aroma and flavor.
It is the third most important tropical fruit in the world after banana and citrus. Pineapple is a good source of vitamins and essential minerals for one’s diet. The plant can thrive in any type of soil provided that it is of a good drainage and is of moderate water holding capacity. The top countries involved in pineapple farming are; Costa Rica, Brazil, India, Thailand and the Philippines.
Benefits of Pineapple farming
Listed below are some benefits of pineapple farming;
Pineapple farming requires little capital
Pineapple farming requires little to no capital to set up as it does not require much labor costs. The costs to be incurred includes those of the pineapple suckers and the necessary farming implements required. Also one could start by growing them at one’s backyard or garden if getting a farming space poses as a problem.
Pineapple farming has high return on investment
Pineapples serve as export crops. This makes them generate huge revenue for the farmers when he exports his pineapples to the foreign market. Also, pineapples are locally consumed by a large number of people for culinary purposes. This makes pineapple farmers rake huge turnovers when they decide to sell them to the domestic market.
Pineapple serves the food processing industry
Pineapples serve as raw materials for the food processing industry as it is used extensively to make yoghurts, jams, ice creams, pies, salads and fruit juice.
Pineapple farming also serve the brewing industry
The brewing industry use pineapples in the industrial production of wines, alcoholic beverages, vinegar etc.
Pineapple has medicinal properties
Research has shown that pineapples contain enzymes and acids which makes pineapple serve as a good anti inflammatory agent. It also helps to induce menstruation in women, kill bacteria, for deworming. It also aid in the prevention of cancer.
Pineapple offer many health benefits
Pineapple has many health benefits to offer as it helps to treat indigestion, inflammation, prevents obesity, diabetes, heart problems, regulates blood pressure, promotes healthy skin and hair growth.
Pineapples are essential food ingredients
People consume pineapple in its fresh, cooked or processed form. People also use pineapples as ingredients to garnish and make their fruit salads, pies, cakes and puddings.
Pineapples are highly nutritious
Pineapples have a high nutritional value as it is richly filled with essential vitamins and minerals required for a healthy body growth. It also has a high fiber content and act as host to antioxidants. This makes pineapples constitute as a nice, ideal part of one’s diet.
Pineapples serve as livestock feed
Pineapple peels and fruits serve as feed for livestock animals. They could also be pelletised to feed certain animals like snails, fish and poultry.
Varieties of pineapples for Pineapple farming
Different types of pineapples are cultivated in different types of the world. They are also known as cultivars of pineapple. These cultivars vary in size, shape, sweetness and color. These are;
Abacaxi pineapples:
These varieties or cultivars of pineapples have a very sweet taste. They are characterized by their spiny bodies with a translucent flesh. They are a disease resistant variety with an average weight of 6-12 pounds.
Brecheche pineapples:
These cultivars are small sized with cylindrical shaped fruits. Their leaves have no spikes and the flesh of its fruit is yellow and very juicy with a characteristic pleasant odour.
Red Spanish pineapples:
These pineapples are of a Caribbean origin. They are recognized by their red-yellow skin color. Its fruits however have a light yellow color with a good taste. They have a higher fiber content when compared with other varieties or cultivars.
Queen pineapples:
They are grown mostly in parts of Australia and South Africa. Its fruits have a dark- yellow color with a good flavor and aroma. These pineapples are not suited for canning and are mostly eaten raw and fresh. But however, they are more disease resistant and adaptable to changes in temperature and climate.
Smooth Cayenne pineapples:
These are the most populous pineapple cultivars as they are found in virtually all food stores. They are bigger than most varieties with an average weight of 6-11 pounds. The fruits have a juicy, yellow flesh with low fiber content. This variety of pineapples can be canned.
Other varieties or cultivars of Pineapples include:
pernambuco, morditona, Singapore red, panare, cayena lisa, Mauritius, manipure, roja espanola, kona sugarloaf etc.
How to plant pineapples
There are two major ways of planting pineapples. These are by;
Planting the pineapple crown
Planting the pineapple sucker
Planting the pineapple crown
The crown is the top of the pineapple fruit after it is cut off. A hole should be made in the garden or any other intended place and the crown planted in it. It takes about 7-8 weeks for its root to form. The plant should be adequately watered within this period.
Planting the pineapple sucker
Suckers are extra, smaller pineapple planys that grow between the pineapple leaves of a mature plant. The planting process is similar to that of the pineapple crown as the suckers are planted the same way.
Pests and diseases of pineapple farming
Pineapples like other plants are prone to be affected by various pests and disease. The combined attacks of pest and diseases hinder and retard the proper growth and development of the pineapple plant. Pests that affect pineapple are; thrips, scales, mites, mealy bugs, ants, rodents etc.
Diseases that affect pineapple farming businesses are; wilt, fungal heart rot, root rot, bacterial heart rot, yellow spot virus, fruitlet core rot, citrus pink disease, anthracnose, black rot etc.
Since prevention is better than cure, preventing disease and pest attacks on pineapples would be cheaper, more economical and reduce wastages. For this purpose, recommended chemicals such as fungicides, insecticides, pesticides should be applied on the pineapple farming business to prevent pest and disease attacks.
Trending Topics:
Thanks for reading our article on how to start a profitable Pineapple farming. You might also be interested in the articles below;
ROLES OF NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS IN AGRICULTURE
A GUIDE TO A PROFITABLE RICE FARMING – 9 STEPS
10 STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL OGBONO FARMING IN NIGERIA
A GUIDE TO PROFITABLE OKRA FARMING – 10 STEPS
A Guide To Profitable Cowpea Farming – 7 Steps
HOW TO START A PROFITABLE YAM FARMING BUSINESS – 18 STEP
HOW TO START A PROFITABLE CASSAVA FARMING BUSINESS – 8 STEPS
FOOD SECURITY; THE 4 PROFITABLE PILLARS
A GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL MAGGOT FARMING – 9 STEPS
ROLES OF NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS IN AGRICULTURE
A GUIDE TO A PROFITABLE RICE FARMING – 9 STEPS
A PROFITABLE SHRIMP FARMING GUIDE – 5 STEPS.
HOW TO START A PROFITABLE LETTUCE FARMING BUSINESS – 9 STEPS
HOW TO START A PROFITABLE CABBAGE FARMING – 8 STEPS
CROP ROTATION, MEANING AND 5 IMPORTANCE
Add Comment