By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THIS YEAR’S TOTAL volume of fresh pineapple is forecast to drop due to drought but a rebound is expected next year, according to Tawee Maskhao, deputy director general of the Department of Agricultural Extension.
Some 1.39 million tons of fresh pineapple is expected throughout this year, marking a 17% drop from last year largely due to drought affecting major pineapple-growing areas in the western and eastern regions of the country.
The tropical fruit is currently selling for an average of 13.07 baht a kilogramme at factories which mostly manufacture canned pineapple for export and 13.81 baht a kilo at domestic markets.
But some 1.96 million tons of fresh pineapple is expected next year, marking a 40.5% increase from this year on condition that the drought situation will not be as severe as this year, Tawee said.
The Department of Agricultural Extension is looking to encourage pineapple farmers to obtain a Good Agricultural Practice certificate which can bring up a relatively high price for their fruit either destined for export or domestic consumption.
Most pineapple plantations are located in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ratchaburi and Rayong.
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Top: Pineapples on sale at a food market in Greenwich. Photo: Garry Knight (CC BY 2.0)
