GI-tagged Queen pineapple puts Tripura on global map, says CM Manik Saha
Synopsis
Tripura's GI-tagged Queen pineapple is no longer just a local crop — it is the state's most potent export brand. With exports already reaching the UK, Germany, Gulf nations, and South Asia, and PM Modi personally flagging the fruit in a festival message, Tripura is betting that one fruit can rewrite its economic story.
Key Takeaways
CM Manik Saha addressed the Tripura Global Pineapple Festival 2026 in New Delhi on 27 June 2026 .
PM Narendra Modi sent a special message congratulating the Tripura government and the Ministry of DoNER , specifically naming the Queen pineapple.
Pineapple is cultivated on around 12,000 hectares in Tripura, with annual output of nearly 1.78 lakh metric tonnes .
In 2018-19 , Tripura exported 33 metric tonnes to the Gulf and Bangladesh and 74 metric tonnes to Germany and Russia.
The GI-tagged Queen variety has attracted strong interest in the UK , Germany , and across South Asia .
Tripura officially declared pineapple its state fruit on 7 June 2018 .
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday, 27 June 2026 declared that the state's GI-tagged Queen pineapple has become a global ambassador for Tripura, helping the landlocked northeastern state carve out a presence in international markets. Speaking at the Tripura Global Pineapple Festival 2026 in New Delhi, Saha said the fruit is not merely an agricultural commodity but a symbol of Tripura's cultural identity and economic promise.
PM Modi's Special Message
Chief Minister Saha revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a special message for the festival, which Saha received on Friday night. In the message, Modi congratulated the Tripura government, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), and all associated departments on the inauguration of the festival. The Prime Minister specifically mentioned the Queen pineapple by name and expressed hope that Tripura would play a pivotal role in building a developed India.
Scale of Pineapple Cultivation in Tripura
Pineapple is cultivated across roughly 12,000 hectares of land in Tripura, yielding an annual production of nearly 1.78 lakh metric tonnes. The crop thrives across the state's hills, valleys, and plains, with local tribal communities and farmers having tended it for generations. On 7 June 2018, the Tripura government officially declared pineapple the state's fruit. Both the Queen and Kew varieties are widely grown in the hilly regions, but the Queen variety has earned a distinct national and international identity owing to its exceptional sweetness, flavour, and aroma.
GI Tag and Export Milestones
The Queen pineapple's Geographical Indication (GI) tag has been a turning point for the state's horticultural sector. Following GI recognition, significant improvements have been recorded across the pineapple value chain. During 2018-19, Tripura exported 33 metric tonnes of Queen and Kew pineapples to Dubai, Qatar, Oman, and Bangladesh. A further 74 metric tonnes were exported to Germany and Russia, while nearly 15,400 metric tonnes were marketed across various Indian states. The GI-tagged variety has since generated considerable interest in the United Kingdom and Germany, and enjoys strong demand across South Asia, including in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Festival as an Economic Platform
Saha described the Tripura Global Pineapple Festival as a major platform for farmers, traders, exporters, researchers, and stakeholders across sectors, with the potential to unlock new livelihood opportunities and accelerate the state's agricultural economy. He added that such initiatives would help Tripura move forward on the path of greater development. This comes amid a broader push by the Centre to integrate northeastern states into national and global supply chains.
Key Attendees
The event was attended by Union Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar, Tripura Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharya, Agriculture Department Secretary Apurba Roy, and other senior officials. Their collective presence underscored the political and institutional weight being placed behind Tripura's agricultural internationalisation. The coming months will reveal whether the festival's momentum translates into sustained export contracts and farm-level income gains.
Point of View
But the export numbers — 33 metric tonnes to the Gulf in 2018-19 — reveal how nascent the trade pipeline still is relative to a production base of 1.78 lakh metric tonnes. The festival circuit and PM Modi's personal endorsement generate visibility, yet the structural gap between farm-gate production and verified export contracts remains wide. For Tripura, which is bordered by Bangladesh on three sides and depends heavily on corridor access, logistics costs remain the silent ceiling on ambition. Whether the GI tag translates into premium pricing at scale — not just diplomatic optics — is the question that farmer communities in the state's hills and valleys will be watching.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GI-tagged Tripura Queen pineapple?
The Tripura Queen pineapple is a variety grown across the hills, valleys, and plains of Tripura, known for its exceptional sweetness, flavour, and aroma. It has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in India, giving it protected status and boosting its appeal in domestic and international markets.
What is the Tripura Global Pineapple Festival 2026?
It is a festival held in New Delhi on 27 June 2026, organised by the Tripura government in association with the Ministry of DoNER, aimed at creating a platform for farmers, exporters, traders, and researchers to explore new opportunities for Tripura's pineapple sector.
Which countries does Tripura export Queen pineapples to?
Tripura exports Queen and Kew pineapples to Dubai, Qatar, Oman, Bangladesh, Germany, and Russia, according to data from 2018-19. The GI-tagged Queen variety has also generated significant interest in the United Kingdom and across South Asia, including Nepal and Bhutan.
How much pineapple does Tripura produce annually?
Tripura produces nearly 1.78 lakh metric tonnes of pineapple annually across approximately 12,000 hectares of cultivated land. The crop is the state's second most important horticultural product.
Why did PM Modi send a message to the Tripura Pineapple Festival?
PM Narendra Modi sent a special message congratulating the Tripura government, the Ministry of DoNER, and associated departments on the festival's inauguration. He specifically mentioned the Queen pineapple and expressed hope that Tripura would play an important role in India's development.
