Bhubaneswar, July 14 -- https://images.odishatv.in/uploadimage/library/16_9/16_9_0/recent_photo_1752482736.webp
The ongoing drivers' union protest in Odisha has dealt a severe blow to pineapple farmers in Niyamgiri, with tonnes of ripe fruit rotting in the fields due to disrupted transportation. Farmers, who had harvested their labour-intensive crop in large quantities, are now forced to sell at throwaway prices in local markets or watch their produce perish.
The lush green slopes of Niyamgiri, spread across Kalyansinghpur, Bissamcuttack and Muniguda blocks in Rayagada district, are known for their sweet, juicy pineapples. The region's unique soil and climate support cultivation across 112 villages. But with truck movements stalled, consi...