Price behavior of pineapple in selected markets of Manipur

Pineapple is one most important fruit crop in Manipur. The state is one of the major states in term of area as well as production of pineapple in the country. The pineapple production districts of the state are Thoubal, Bishnupur, Senapati and Churchandpur districts. The area under pineapple in Thoubal, Bishnupur, Senapati and Churchandpur districts were 2.39, 1.50, 3.11 and 2.01 thousand ha with production of 21.99, 13.80, 28.01 and 19.88 thousand ton and productivity of 9.20, 9.20, 9.01 and 9.89 ton per ha. More than 70 per cent of pineapple production was contributed by these districts to the total production of the state during 2011–12. The present investigation was conducted with the objectives to study the seasonal price behavior and relationship between the markets arrival and price of the pineapple in the selected markets of the state. The selected markets were Imphal and Lamlong markets. Secondary data of wholesale prices were collected for the period of nine years (2004–05 to 2012–13) and were converted into index numbers. The marketed season of Imphal and Lamlong markets starts from June-July and ends in November-December. At the beginning pineapple arrival was low in both markets and reached the peak in August. In all the markets the arrival of pineapple was showing inelastic response to the price of pineapple and lagged prices was showing positive and inelasticity in the Imphal markets and positive and elastic in response Lamlong market.