Kumarghat, July 12, 2025 The Tripura government is making efforts to establish a pineapple processing unit in the region modeled after NERAMAC (North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation), announced Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath. Speaking at the inauguration of the Pineapple Festival held at Gitanjali Auditorium in Kumarghat, the Minister said that the proposed factory will operate under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, and necessary preparations are already underway.
Organized by the Department of Soil Conservation and Horticulture in collaboration with the Young Darlong Association, the festival showcases fresh produce and processed pineapple products from farmers across Unakoti, Dhalai, and North Tripura districts.
Highlighting the state’s commitment to promoting pineapple cultivation, Minister Nath reminded the audience that the President of India had officially declared pineapple as the state fruit of Tripura. He stated that the state primarily produces two varieties — Kew and Queen — which are globally appreciated for their exceptional taste and aroma. The festival aims to popularize and promote Tripura pineapples on a wider scale.
Minister Nath also referred to a recently held Buyer-Seller Meet in Agartala on July 9 focused on organic produce. He said the goal is to facilitate direct access between local farmers and national buyers, thereby enhancing farmers’ incomes. Currently, fruit cultivation in the state spans over 3.65 lakh kanis of land, with Kew pineapples grown on 53,700 kanis and Queen variety on 22,000 kanis. From 2018–19 to 2024–25, Tripura exported 73.15 metric tonnes of pineapples to Dubai, Qatar, and Oman, he added.
Addressing the gathering, Minister for Tribal Welfare Sudhanshu Das said Tripura pineapples are not only popular within India but also appreciated abroad. He emphasized the government’s innovative initiatives in the agri-allied sector aimed at boosting rural economies. He stressed the importance of both increased production and value addition through processing to raise farmers’ incomes.
Other dignitaries present included MLA Bhagaban Chandra Das, Anshuman Dey (Joint Secretary, Ministry of DoNER, Govt. of India), Apurba Roy (Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department), and Deepak Kumar Das (Director, Department of Soil Conservation and Horticulture), who delivered the welcome address.
The event was also graced by Unakoti Zilla Parishad Chairman Amolendu Das, Vice Chairman Santosh Dhar, Planning Secretary L.T. Darlong, Unakoti District Magistrate Dr. Tamal Majumdar, and Young Darlong Association President H. Darlong, among others.
As part of the Pineapple Festival, the Young Darlong Association organized a voluntary blood donation camp. Minister Ratan Lal Nath encouraged the donors, with a total of 31 people donating blood during the camp.
