New Delhi/Agartala, June 25 (IANS) Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Thursday announced that the state government has decided to expand the area under Queen variety pineapple cultivation from the existing 12,000 hectares to 15,000 hectares over the next three years.

The Minister also said that two bromelain extraction centres would be established in Agartala and the Gomati district to enhance value addition and boost farmers’ income.

The Minister made the announcement while addressing the media in New Delhi ahead of the Global Pineapple Festival 2026 in Delhi, where the Tripura pineapple exhibition will be held from June 27 to 29 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

Nath said that June 27 is observed as International Pineapple Day and, to mark the occasion, the Tripura government, through its Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Horticulture Departments, is organising the three-day Tripura Global Pineapple Festival 2026.

He said that Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and Minister of State for DoNER have been invited to attend the event. Members of Parliament from Tripura and several other dignitaries are also expected to participate in the festival.

The primary objective of the festival is not only to showcase Tripura’s world-renowned Queen pineapple on the global platform but also to promote the state’s tourism potential, cultural heritage, bamboo sector and other economic activities before national and international delegates, Nath said.

The Agriculture Minister said that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, the agriculture sector has witnessed remarkable growth and transformation, adding that the Centre’s Act East Policy has opened new avenues for agricultural development and market expansion in the northeastern region.

Highlighting the importance of the event, Nath said that three outstanding Queen pineapple farmers would be honoured during the festival in recognition of their contribution to the sector. A total of 25 exhibition stalls will be set up during the event, showcasing pineapple-based products, agricultural innovations, organic produce and other sectors linked to Tripura’s economy.

The Minister said that Tripura cultivates two major pineapple varieties – Queen and Kew – with the Queen pineapple being the state’s flagship fruit. “Our Queen pineapple received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, and in 2018, the Tripura government declared Queen pineapple as the state fruit. It is globally renowned for its exceptional sweetness, flavour and quality,” Nath said.

He informed that pineapple cultivation currently covers more than 12,000 hectares in the state, with an annual production of around 1.78 lakh metric tonnes. “The key objective of this initiative is to establish a strong value chain for Queen pineapple in the international market so that farmers receive better returns for their produce and their livelihoods improve significantly,” he said.

Nath further stated that the state government, with support from the Central government and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), has undertaken a Rs 234-crore project to strengthen marketing, processing, branding, and export infrastructure for Queen pineapple.

“Our goal is to expand Queen pineapple cultivation from 12,000 hectares to 15,000 hectares over the next three years. We have also planned to establish two bromelain extraction plants in Agartala and the Gomati district, which will create additional value-added opportunities and generate greater economic benefits for farmers,” the Minister added.

Bromelain, a valuable enzyme extracted from pineapple, is widely used in the pharmaceutical, food processing and cosmetic industries, making it a promising avenue for agro-based industrial development in the state.

Among those present at the media briefing were Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department Secretary Apurba Roy, Director of Horticulture Phanibhusan Jamatia and Mission Director of the Tripura Organic Mission Rajib Debbarma.

Tripura Chief Minister Saha earlier said that pineapple was declared the state fruit of Tripura. He highlighted that Tripura’s renowned ‘Queen’ and ‘Kew’ varieties of pineapple are grown naturally in the state’s hilly terrain without chemical inputs, making them exceptionally sweet, juicy, and aromatic. He further stated that the state government is promoting value addition, food processing, packaging, branding, and market linkages to enhance farmers’ income and generate employment opportunities in rural areas.

–IANS

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