New Delhi/Agartala, June 27 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday said that pineapple holds a significant place in the state’s cultural and social life, while the renowned Queen variety has emerged as a global ambassador for Tripura, helping the northeastern state establish its presence in international markets.

Addressing the Tripura Global Pineapple Festival 2026 in New Delhi, the Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent a special message on the occasion, congratulating the Tripura Government, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), and all the departments associated with organising the festival.

Saha said the Prime Minister sent a message on the occasion of the Pineapple Festival, and that he received it last night (Friday).

He added that the Prime Minister, in it, congratulated the Tripura government on the inauguration of the Tripura Global Pineapple Festival and also congratulated the Ministry of DoNER and the concerned department.

He noted that the Prime Minister specifically mentioned the famous Queen pineapple of Tripura in his message.

The Chief Minister said that the Pineapple festival would serve as a major platform for farmers, traders, exporters, researchers and stakeholders from various sectors, creating new opportunities for the state’s agricultural economy.

He added that through such initiatives, new opportunities, including livelihood generation, would open up, and Tripura would move forward towards greater development.

He further said that Prime Minister Modi had also expressed hope that Tripura would play an important role in building a developed India.

Highlighting the state’s agricultural strengths, Saha said that Tripura, located in India’s northeastern region and bordered by Bangladesh on three sides, is widely known for its rich agricultural heritage.

He added that in Tripura’s favourable agro-climatic conditions, pineapple has emerged as the second most important horticultural crop and that it is not merely an agricultural product but also a symbol of the state’s cultural identity and economic prosperity.

He said that pineapple cultivation in Tripura dates back several generations and that this delicious fruit is grown naturally across the state’s hills, valleys, and plains. He added that local tribal communities and farmers have been cultivating pineapples for generations, and their dedication has enabled this sector to flourish.

Saha said the globally acclaimed Queen pineapple variety has earned international recognition due to the relentless efforts of the state’s farmers. He added that the Queen pineapple has now received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag in India.

He noted that pineapple is cultivated on around 12,000 hectares of land in Tripura, with an annual production of nearly 1.78 lakh metric tonnes, and that on June 7, 2018, the Tripura government declared pineapple as the state’s official fruit.

He said that both the Queen and Kew varieties are widely cultivated in the hilly regions of the state, but the Queen variety has carved a unique identity across the country because of its exceptional sweetness, flavour and aroma.

The Chief Minister further said that pineapple continues to play an important role in Tripura’s cultural and social life. He said that following the GI recognition, significant improvements have been witnessed across the pineapple value chain.

He added that during 2018-19, Tripura exported 33 metric tonnes of Queen and Kew pineapples to Dubai, Qatar, Oman and Bangladesh. In addition, 74 metric tonnes were exported to Germany and Russia, while nearly 15,400 metric tonnes were marketed across different states of India.

Saha said that the GI-tagged Tripura Queen pineapple has generated considerable interest in the European market, particularly in the United Kingdom and Germany.

He added that, besides Europe, the fruit also enjoys strong demand in neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, and that the Tripura Queen variety of pineapple is in great demand across South Asia.

Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (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 attended the event.

–IANS

sc/dana