Member of Parliament Rajib Bhattacharjee raised important demands in the Rajya Sabha to safeguard the interests of Queen pineapple farmers in Tripura.
Speaking in the House, Bhattacharjee emphasized the urgent need to establish a pineapple park, modern cold storage facilities, and special export incentives in the state to ensure fair prices and better international market access for tribal farmers.
He stated that nearly 33 percent of Tripura’s indigenous population is involved in the cultivation of Queen pineapple, making it one of the key sources of livelihood and economic support for tribal communities.
Bhattacharjee also highlighted that on June 7, 2018, former President Ram Nath Kovind declared Tripura’s Queen pineapple as the state’s official fruit. Later, under the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the fruit received Geographical Indication (GI) Tag status, which helped it gain wider recognition in both domestic and international markets.
Appealing to the central government through the Vice President, Bhattacharjee said that establishing a pineapple park in Tripura would enable canning and the production of various value-added pineapple products. This, he noted, would significantly increase farmers’ income.
He also demanded the establishment of a modern cold storage facility to preserve the fruit’s quality for export, allowing Tripura’s Queen pineapple to reach international markets without spoilage.
“Queen pineapple is not just a fruit; it is a symbol of Tripura’s identity,” Bhattacharjee said. He added that building modern infrastructure to support farmers would secure their future and strengthen the state’s economy.
The MP expressed hope that with such facilities in place, tribal farmers would receive fair prices for their produce and Tripura’s Queen pineapple would expand its presence in the global market, further strengthening the state’s agriculture-based economy.
