However, the lack of cold storage facilities remains a major challenge.”Higher returns, better livelihoodsFarmers say honey queen pineapple cultivation offers substantially higher returns than traditional crops like paddy. “Compared to rice and other crops, pineapple farming is far more profitable,” said Putul Chakma, a farmer from Naniarchar. Another farmer, Parashi Chakma, shifted from traditional jhum cultivation to pineapple farming this year, planting around 35,000 saplings across five hectares. Deputy Director of the Rangamati DAE, Md Moniruzzaman, noted that the district’s fallow hill lands are highly suitable for pineapple cultivation. For Rangamati’s hill farmers, the honey queen pineapple is more than just a seasonal crop; it represents resilience, opportunity, and a pathway to sustained economic growth.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 27, 2026 19:16 UTC