New Delhi/Agartala, June 29 (IANS) Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Monday said that pineapple fibre can be processed into a wide range of high-value products, including textiles, garments, household items and eco-friendly packaging materials, opening up new avenues for revenue generation and employment.

Speaking on the concluding day of the three-day Tripura Queen Pineapple Global Festival 2026 in New Delhi, the Minister said the initiative has the potential to generate business worth crores of rupees while creating substantial employment opportunities, particularly in rural and agro-based sectors.

“Through value addition and market expansion, the Tripura government aims to increase the state’s pineapple economy from the existing Rs 35 crore to nearly Rs 200 crore in the near future,” Nath said. The Minister noted that the “Queen” variety of pineapple was declared the state fruit of Tripura by the then President Ram Nath Kovind on June 7, 2018, and has since emerged as one of the state’s most valuable horticultural products. The fruit has also earned the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag, further strengthening its market identity.

Nath said the third and final day of the first-ever Tripura Queen Pineapple Global Festival 2026 concluded on a grand and festive note, with the participation of several eminent dignitaries, recognition of outstanding contributors to the pineapple sector, and enthusiastic response from visitors.

The Minister said the festival has further reinforced Tripura’s position as one of India’s leading producers of premium-quality Queen Pineapple and is expected to provide fresh momentum to the state’s efforts to strengthen the pineapple value chain, enhance farmers’ incomes and expand domestic as well as international markets.

The third and final day of the festival was attended by Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, West Bengal Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh, BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh, and BJP leader Sunil Deodhar.

The dignitaries visited the exhibition stalls and interacted with farmers, entrepreneurs and exhibitors, appreciating the quality and potential of Tripura’s GI-tagged Queen Pineapple.

A senior official of the Horticulture Dept said that to recognise excellence among the exhibitors, awards were presented to the best government stalls, set up in the festival venue at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. The first prize was jointly awarded to the Tripura Forest Development and Plantation Corporation (TFDPC) and RNJ Agri-clinic and Agribusiness Pvt Ltd. The second prize went to the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), while the third prize was conferred on the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM), the official said.

He said that one of the major highlights of the programme was the presentation of the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag Certificate for Tripura’s Queen Pineapple to a farmer, along with a cash award of Rs 25,000. In addition, two progressive farmers were honoured with the Best Pineapple Grower Award, with each receiving a cash prize of Rs 25,000 in recognition of their outstanding contribution to pineapple cultivation and promotion.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, free Queen Pineapples were distributed among visitors, enabling thousands of people to savour the distinctive taste, aroma and quality of Tripura’s GI-tagged fruit.

The official said that the three-day festival successfully showcased the immense potential of Tripura’s pineapple sector through exhibitions, buyer-seller meets, business networking, cultural programmes and stakeholder interactions.

The event served as an important platform for promoting value addition, branding, exports and expanded market opportunities for the state’s premium pineapple, he stated.

–IANS

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