The project was formally unveiled in New Delhi in the presence of Union Minister for DoNER Jyotiraditya Scindia, Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha, and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath.
Addressing the event, Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath said Tripura’s hilly terrain—locally known as “Tilla”—along with its fertile plains, creates ideal conditions for pineapple cultivation. Around 70% of the state is hilly, making it well-suited for horticulture, especially pineapple farming, which is largely carried out by tribal growers.
He highlighted that Tripura’s Queen Pineapple, which has received a GI tag, is renowned for its distinctive aroma, golden-yellow color, low fiber content, and rich taste. Despite its premium quality, farmers currently earn only ₹6–₹10 per kg at the farm level, while processed and export-grade pineapple can fetch between ₹80–₹150 per kg in broader markets.
The minister noted that Tripura pineapples are highly regarded across India and abroad. The Queen variety is known for its sweetness, fragrance, and nutritional value, containing vitamins A, B, and C along with essential minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Its sweetness level ranges between 13–17.2° Brix, with balanced acidity giving it a distinct sweet-tangy flavor.
He also recalled that exports of Queen Pineapple began in 2018, reaching countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Bangladesh, while processed pineapple products have been shipped to Germany and Russia.
The DPR titled “Pineapple Cultivation and Value Chain Development” outlines a three-year roadmap from FY 2026 to FY 2028, focusing on improving cultivation practices, post-harvest infrastructure, processing, branding, and marketing.
Of the total ₹236 crore investment, funding will come from multiple sources, including ₹145 crore from MDoNER, ₹30 crore from the Ministry of Agriculture, ₹25 crore from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, ₹20 crore from the Tripura government, and contributions from APEDA, MSME, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and ICAR.
Officials said the project will adopt a multi-ministerial coordination approach to unlock the full market potential of Tripura’s Queen Pineapple. The scheme also emphasizes value addition, including the use of pineapple leaves—currently treated as waste—which are estimated to hold significant economic potential if processed effectively, contributing to a circular agricultural economy.
