Agartala, Tripura – In a significant boost to the agricultural sector of Tripura, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has announced a substantial Rs 132.62-crore project aimed at promoting the state’s famed pineapple on the global stage.
This initiative follows a proposal submitted by the Tripura government to explore and penetrate international markets for its distinctive queen variety of pineapple, a fruit that holds the esteemed title of the state fruit, declared back in 2018 by the then President Ram Nath Kovind.
Currently, the northeastern state boasts an impressive 12,095 hectares dedicated to pineapple cultivation, yielding an annual production of approximately 1,77,433 tonnes of the succulent fruit. Highlighting the unique qualities of Tripura’s produce, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath recently convened a virtual meeting with DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, accompanied by key officials.
During this crucial discussion, Minister Nath underscored the exceptional taste, flavour profile, and rich nutritional content of the Tripura pineapple, asserting its strong potential for global market success.
Phani Bhusan Jamatia, Director of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, further elaborated on the inherent advantages of Tripura’s pineapple. He emphasized that the organically grown nature of these pineapples positions them favorably in international markets, particularly given the increasing global demand for healthy and chemical-free agricultural products. Jamatia noted that Minister Scindia displayed considerable enthusiasm for the initiative to promote Tripura’s pineapples, stressing the importance of ensuring year-round production capabilities and developing attractive packaging solutions to effectively boost export volumes.
Addressing the current harvesting window, Jamatia pointed out that the queen variety of pineapple in Tripura is primarily harvested within a three-month period starting in May. To overcome this limitation and enhance market reach, he stressed the critical need for advancements in processing and packaging technologies to extend the shelf life of the fruit.
Currently, one integrated packaging facility is operational in Agartala, with another anticipated to be established in Nalakata, North Tripura, within the next month.
Jamatia also highlighted the perishable nature of pineapples, despite their organic cultivation, noting that they tend to spoil within a short span of 6 to 8 days. In this context, he suggested exploring the potential use of safe hormonal treatments as a means to prolong freshness and maintain quality during transportation and storage.
Furthermore, Union Minister Scindia advocated for the integration of modern technologies in pineapple cultivation practices. He emphasized the potential of drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and various IT tools to enhance surveillance, maintenance, and overall quality, ultimately enabling farmers to secure better prices in the competitive international markets.
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