Pineapple cultivation from 12,000 to 15,000 hectares
AGARTALA: The Agriculture Department of Tripura has announced plans to expand queen pineapple cultivation from 12,000 hectares to 15,000 hectares within the next three years. This decision was revealed by Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath during a press conference Thursday in New Delhi, where he also outlined the upcoming Tripura Global Pineapple Festival 2026.
The festival, Scheduled for June 27 to 29 at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, aims to celebrate International Pineapple Day and elevate Tripura's pineapple to a global audience while promoting tourism and cultural initiatives. Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, Union Agriculture and DoNER ministers are expected to attend the event, which will honor prominent queen pineapple farmers and showcase 25 stalls showcasing the region's agricultural products.
Tripura is recognized for its Queen and Kew pineapple varieties, with the queen pineapple having received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag and being declared the state fruit in 2018 due to its distinctive sweetness and quality.
Minister Nath underlined the achievements of the agricultural sector under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, attributing this progress to the Act East Policy. To support the development of the queen pineapple market, the government has initiated a Rs 234 crore project, in collaboration with the Central Government and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) aimed at enhancing marketing and processing capabilities.
The government also plans to establish two bromelain extraction centers in Agartala and the Gomati district as part of these efforts to increase the area dedicated to pineapple cultivation and provide greater financial benefits to local farmers. Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharya, Agriculture Secretary Apurba Roy, Director of Horticulture Phanibhusan Jamatia and Rajib Debbarma, Mission Director of Tripura Organic Mission were present at the presser.