The Gajapati district administration has set up a pineapple processing unit. It is the first of its kind in the state, at Sindhaba in Rayagada block to enhance the income of farmers. The unit was set up by the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Paralakhemundi, under the Mission Jeevika scheme.
The unit has started trial production. An Indore-based company has installed the machines. “The company has also signed an agreement with the district administration to buy back the processed pineapple products for at least one year,” said Gajapati collector Lingaraj Panda. Products like jam, pulp, dry candy, jelly, etc, are produced after processing pineapple. “Pineapple farmers as well as Mission Shakti groups will benefit from the unit,” he said.
