Agartala, Apr 25 – The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has announced its support for a significant project worth Rs 132.62 crore aimed at promoting Tripura’s pineapple on a global scale. This initiative comes after the Tripura government submitted a proposal to explore international markets for the queen variety of pineapple, which was designated as the state fruit by former President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018.

Currently, Tripura has 12,095 hectares dedicated to pineapple cultivation, yielding approximately 1,77,433 tonnes of the fruit annually. During a virtual meeting held on Thursday, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath discussed the project with DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and senior officials. Phani Bhusan Jamatia, Director of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, emphasized the unique taste, flavor, and nutritional benefits of Tripura’s pineapples, highlighting their marketability on a global scale.

Jamatia noted the rising demand for healthy, organic produce, suggesting that Tripura’s organically grown pineapples have strong potential in international markets. Scindia expressed a keen interest in promoting these pineapples and underscored the importance of ensuring year-round production and attractive packaging to enhance export opportunities.

The queen variety of pineapple in Tripura is harvested over a three-month period starting in May. Jamatia pointed out the need for improvements in processing and packaging to extend the fruit’s shelf life. Currently, there is one integrated packaging facility operational in Agartala, with plans for another facility to be established in Nalakata, North Tripura, within a month.

He also stressed the necessity for effective preservation techniques, as pineapples, despite being organically grown, are highly perishable and can spoil within 6 to 8 days. Jamatia suggested exploring safe hormonal treatments to prolong freshness.

Additionally, the Union Minister advocated for the incorporation of modern technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and IT tools in pineapple cultivation. These innovations are expected to improve surveillance, maintenance, and overall quality, ultimately enabling farmers to secure better prices in international markets.