THE El Nino weather phenomenon has seriously affected pineapple cultivation at Mainstay/Whyaka, on Essequibo Coast, where the processing factory has ceased operations.
Farmers in the community had cleared a large acreage in the forested area to extend the organic growing of pineapples, in light of demand for the chunks on the international market.
But closure of the processing facility has put 35 employees out of work when it was expected to put out a new line, organic pineapple juice.
However, farmers are hoping for rain so their plants can soon bloom, again.