Thejaswi U Poojary

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Apr 27: As the golden days of pineapple season arrive, farms buzz with activity. At Ajay Noronha’s estate, nestled amidst Karnataka’s lush greenery, fields brim with the sweet, sun-kissed aroma of pineapples. This season not only marks the peak of harvest but also celebrates the journey of a family that turned a humble tradition into a booming, sustainable business, from the prized ‘Mauritius’ variety to the mighty ‘Giant Kew’.

In the lush tropical landscape of Karnataka, Ajay Noronha stands as a proud second-generation farmer, continuing a fruitful legacy begun by his ancestors. Migrating from Goa decades ago, his forefathers brought with them the prized 'Mauritius' variety of pineapple, a move that would, over time, create a thriving agricultural tradition.

Ajay, a pineapple farmer from Subhas Nagar, Katapadi, Udupi, shares that when they first began pineapple cultivation, 90 percent of the produce was the 'Mauritius' variety, also known locally as the Kerala variety, while only 10 percent was 'Kew'. Over the years, the cultivation dynamics shifted dramatically. Today, the 'Giant Kew' variety accounts for about 80 percent of the crop, with each pineapple weighing an impressive 4 kilograms.

The cultivation journey has been rewarding. Although both the Kerala and Kew varieties require a similar growing period, the Giant Kew’s larger fruit size and better adaptability to the tropical climate have made it the preferred choice. Without much nurturing, Kew variety pineapples thrive well here. This low-maintenance fruit requires watering just once a week and is resilient even during dry spells, making it a highly sustainable crop.

Commercially, pineapples have become a highly lucrative venture. Over the past three years, prices have been soaring, with wholesale rates crossing Rs 80 per kg. Government support has played a crucial role too, offering subsidies for planting materials and a 33 percent subsidy per acre for cultivation. Through these initiatives and the growing local demand, Ajay has been able to expand his operations confidently.

At his homestay, guests are treated to fresh, homemade pineapple juice, a sweet symbol of their agricultural success. In addition, Ajay emphasizes sustainable farming practices, using organic chicken manure and maintaining honeybee hives to assist in natural pollination. Along with pineapples, Ajay grows other fruits such as mango, dragon fruit, jam fruit, and others.

Today, Ajay's farm is evolving further. The estate is being renovated into a pineapple tourism destination. Furthermore, they have partnered with a craft fruit winery based in Shivamogga to supply pineapples for fruit wines. Their vision is to establish a wine tourism spot where visitors can experience the farm, the fruit, and the fine craft wine made from their very own harvest.

Ajay Noronha said, “We grow pineapples using crowns and slips. Planting the crown takes about two years for yield and produces bigger fruits, whereas slips give a faster yield within a year. In 2017, we planted about 50,000 plants, which led to an impressive harvest of nearly 1 lakh kilograms of pineapple within two years. Currently, due to renovation works, the estate has about 15,000 plants. The government has supported cultivation by providing subsidies for planting materials and also subsidies for growing pineapples — 33 percent per acre. With government support and the surging local demand, we are able to cultivate at this amount.”