How Much Pineapple Has Tripura Exported in Seven Years?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Tripura exported 73.15 MT of pineapple in seven years.
- A new fruit processing center is planned to support farmers.
- The government aims to enhance farmers' income through various initiatives.
- Tripura is pursuing Geographical Indication (GI) tags for local products.
- The state government supports organic farming and exports.
Agartala, July 12 (NationPress) Tripura's Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced on Saturday that over the past seven years, the department has successfully exported 73.15 metric tonnes (MT) of delicious pineapple to Dubai, Oman, and Qatar.
The Minister detailed that from 2018 to 2025, a total of 73.15 MT of pineapple has been shipped to these countries, alongside 4.40 MT of jackfruit to America, 30 MT of ginger, and 17 MT of betel leaf to Bangladesh.
The Minister highlighted plans to enhance the income of pineapple growers by establishing a new fruit processing center under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in Nalkata, located in the Dhalai district.
While speaking at the Pineapple Festival in Kumarghat, Unakoti District, Nath mentioned that the state government is actively pursuing the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for various products including 'Sidol Shutki' (fermented fish) and 'Sabari banana'.
“Since the BJP government took office in 2018, we have designated the Queen pineapple as our state fruit. This variety already holds a GI tag, preventing imitation. Our primary goal is to enhance the production and market reach of pineapple. To achieve this, events like the Pineapple Festival are being organized. Recently, we also conducted meetings for buyers and sellers focused on organic products,” he stated.
The Minister noted that the inaugural Organic Buyer-Seller meeting was held earlier this week for various organic products such as pineapple, bird's eye chili, turmeric, and ginger.
He emphasized that a significant portion of land in the state is dedicated to fruit cultivation, predominantly pineapple.
Tripura is well-known for its Queen and Kew varieties of pineapple, both of which thrive in the state’s unique hilly and humid climate with minimal chemical use. These pineapples are distinguished by their golden yellow color and delightful aroma upon ripening, according to Nath.
“When our government came into power, the price of a pineapple was approximately Rs 8 to Rs 9. It has now risen to around Rs 40 or more. Our main objective is to support farmers and increase their income. The Union DoNER Ministry is working towards making Queen pineapple a global brand. We have had discussions with Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia twice and are planning a scheme worth Rs 132 crore,” the Minister explained.
He reiterated that the government’s core aim is to reinforce farmers’ income to foster economic growth in the state.
The Minister, alongside officials, also visited a pineapple processing center in Kumarghat.