Mbeliling pineapple farmer sends harvests into Labuan Bajo supply chain

Labuan Bajo — A 71-year-old farmer in Mbeliling, West Manggarai, has developed a nearly two-hectare pineapple plantation whose harvest is collected by traders supplying the Labuan Bajo market, according to reports published by RRI on 19 September 2026.

Blasius Agen has grown pineapples for around 15 years in Kampung Ndole, Golo Damu Village, Mbeliling District, Manggarai Barat, East Nusa Tenggara. RRI reports that he manages about 15,000 pineapple plants and that harvests can range from roughly 50 fruits at low output to between 600 and 700 fruits when production is strong.

According to RRI, traders from Labuan Bajo’s market collect the pineapples at the farm and then sell them in the town, a tourism gateway to Komodo National Park. The report does not name specific traders or identify the final buyers along the supply chain.

From candlenut to pineapples

Before focusing on pineapples, Blasius cultivated kemiri, or candlenut, on his land. He told RRI that candlenut yields were unpredictable from year to year, prompting him to shift to pineapples, which he considers to have a more regular harvest cycle.

RRI reports that Blasius previously had about 24 mature candlenut trees on the property, which were felled six to seven years ago to make space for expanding the pineapple plantation. Since then, pineapples have become his main crop.

Production at the Kampung Ndole plantation is staggered rather than concentrated in a single season. Blasius told RRI that during stronger periods fruit can be harvested almost weekly, while at lower production periods harvests may occur roughly every two weeks.

He described weeding as one of the most demanding tasks, because the pineapple plants have thorns and the grass must be cleared regularly to prevent it from weakening the crop. The farmer said pineapples are now his primary agricultural focus to support daily needs, although he also maintains Arabica coffee and clove trees on the land.

Prices and income

In RRI’s account, the farmgate price varies by fruit size and purchase volume. Bulk buyers paying for larger quantities reportedly buy pineapples at around Rp10,000 to Rp15,000 per fruit. Purchases in smaller quantities are reported at about Rp25,000 to Rp35,000 per fruit.

Blasius told RRI that a single trip to market with the harvested pineapples can generate between Rp6 million and Rp7 million in income, depending on the volume and pricing. He said traders from Labuan Bajo typically collect 200 to 300 fruits at a time.

The RRI report notes that production is strongest between July and September. After this higher-output period, harvest volumes may fall while prices can also come under pressure when supplies from other farmers increase.

A local link to Labuan Bajo’s visitor economy

RRI’s coverage describes how pineapple growers in Kampung Ndole, including Blasius, are entering Labuan Bajo’s broader food supply chain through traders who collect fruit in the village and transport it to the town. The story highlights local hopes that agricultural produce from Ndole, particularly pineapples, can reach hotels and other tourism businesses in Labuan Bajo.

In December 2025, a local farmer from Kampung Ndole told regional media that high-quality pineapples from the village were difficult to sell and expressed hopes for government assistance to help the fruit enter the market and, if possible, supply Labuan Bajo hotels. A local legislator promised to help connect relevant agencies and hotel operators so that Ndole’s pineapple farmers could access wider markets.

Taken together, these accounts show that farmers in Kampung Ndole are working to strengthen the link between smallholder pineapple production in Mbeliling and demand in Labuan Bajo’s visitor economy, using traders and potential institutional buyers as bridges between the two.

Sources

• RRI Ende – "Petani Golo Damu, Mbeliling Kembangkan Nanas di Lahan Hampir 2 Hektare"
• GBRNews – "DPRD Rofinus Rahmat Komitmen Dorong Pembangunan Jembatan Wae Rawas"