Guinea pineapple grower loses over 50,000 plants in Kindia fires

GUINEA – An agricultural entrepreneur in Guinea has reported heavy losses after fires swept through his pineapple fields in Kindia prefecture, wiping out more than 50,000 plants across two sites in the Samoreyah district.

Aboubacar Barry said the fires hit his plantations in Damakania sub prefecture, affecting a total of two hectares. The two fields sit apart from each other, yet both suffered damage within a short period. Authorities have not confirmed the cause, and no official probe has started.

Heavy losses across two sites

Barry explained that one field held about 23,000 pineapple plants, while the second had nearly 35,000. The larger site suffered the worst impact, with most plants lost.

“I farm two hectares of pineapples here, and I’m a victim of fires almost every year. But this time, the damage is particularly extensive. The two fields aren’t adjacent. On the first site, we had about 23,000 plants, and on the second, nearly 35,000. The fire on the first site consumed almost all of the plants. Barely 10% could be saved,” Barry said.

He added that fires have affected the area many times over the past four years. However, he described the latest incident as different from earlier cases.

Suspicious fire patterns

According to Barry, the fire in the larger field appeared to start inside the plantation, which raised concern.

“For the past four years, we have been experiencing fires originating from outside. But this time, to our great surprise, the fire started from within the field itself that housed the 35,000 feet. Upon investigation, it appears that the perpetrators attempted to contain the fire inside to prevent its spread, which is highly suspicious,” he said.

At the second site, which held around 23,000 plants, Barry said his team had taken basic steps to limit risk, including clearing the land and removing dry grass. Despite this, flames still reached the crop.

“On Saturday, we were alerted to a fire. When we arrived, local residents were already trying to extinguish it. They explained that the fire came from behind the firebreaks, but strangely enough, the grass around the plantation didn’t burn. Only the field was affected,” he said.

Calls for action from growers

Barry said he has not yet calculated the full financial loss, as he still needs to total costs linked to land clearing, stump removal, tractor use, transport of waste, and daily fuel use.

“It’s still too early to put a figure on it. I’ve recorded all the expenses, clearing, stump removal, tractor, purchase, and transport of the waste. I still need to calculate the total, not forgetting the fuel used daily,” he said.

The incident has renewed concern among pineapple growers in Kindia, where farmers report similar fires each year. Producers say pineapple farming plays a key role in local incomes and food supply.

They are now urging authorities to improve prevention and security measures to reduce repeated losses and protect farms in the area.

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