In Mongar has developed into a flourishing pineapple farm, enhancing the local economy and farmers’ standard of living. Yeshi Tshomo, 53, is leading this transformation by turning her two-acre plot into a pineapple farm where she grows Queen and Kew kinds. Despite pineapples taking five years to reach full commercial maturity, her farm has started to turn a profit since planting 500 seedlings in 2020. Her perseverance has paid off. Last year, she made Nu 60,000, and this year, she made Nu 80,000. Selling pineapples was more of a struggle for many growers than actually cultivating them. When BAIL offered a steady market, that changed. Commercial pineapple cultivation in Yangbari has improved farmer livelihoods and earnings.
But there have been difficulties in growing pineapples. Wildlife, such as porcupines and wild boars, frequently assaults farmers. Chain-link fences and temporary guard houses have been erected throughout the fields to keep animals out. Nima Zangmo, a pineapple farmer, claimed that human-wildlife confrontations had gotten worse in spite of different tactics. According to Pikari-Yangbari Tshogpa of Sangay Chophel, pineapple cultivation has directly helped local farmers and decreased poverty. ARDC Wengkhar, the Divisional Forest Office, DoFPS, and the local government have put up around 6 kilometers of chain-link fencing. Conflicts between people and wildlife nonetheless pose a serious problem in spite of this. Reliance on the Golden Mahseer has decreased as a result of the switch to pineapple farming as the main cash crop, which has provided a viable substitute.
