From the orchards of Tripura to the global marketplace, the state's celebrated Queen Pineapple is set to take centre stage at a three-day festival beginning June 27 in Delhi.
Timed to coincide with International Pineapple Day, the festival seeks not only to promote the Queen Pineapple but also to showcase Tripura's tourism, handicrafts, bamboo industry and cultural heritage before national and international buyers, exporters, policymakers and investors.
Announcing the launch of the first-of-its-kind initiative, Tripura's Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Ratan Lal Nath, said the state intends to transform the Queen pineapple from a successful horticultural crop into the cornerstone of a broader rural economy driven by processing, exports and agro-based industries.
Alongside the festival, he also announced plans to increase the area under Queen Pineapple cultivation from around 12,000 hectares to 15,000 hectares over the next three years. It also plans to establish two bromelain extraction centres and expand food processing infrastructure to help farmers earn higher returns through value-added products.
"The objective is not only to take Tripura's pineapple to the global stage but also to promote the state's tourism, culture and other sectors," he said.
Known for its natural sweetness, low fibre content and distinctive aroma, the Queen pineapple enjoys a unique position among Indian fruits. It received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag and was declared Tripura's state fruit in 2018, strengthening its identity as a premium horticultural product.
Tripura currently cultivates both Queen and Kew pineapple varieties across more than 12,000 hectares, producing nearly 1.78 lakh metric tonnes annually. However, much of the produce continues to be marketed as fresh fruit, leaving farmers vulnerable to seasonal price fluctuations and post-harvest losses.
To address these challenges, the state has launched a Rs. 234 crore project with support from the centre and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) to strengthen the entire pineapple value chain—from production and storage to processing, branding and marketing.
Among the major initiatives is the establishment of bromelain extraction facilities in Agartala and Gomati districts, besides a plant to extract fibre from pineapple leaves. Bromelain, an enzyme obtained from pineapple stems and fruit, is widely used in pharmaceuticals, food processing, cosmetics and nutraceuticals.
"Each plant is expected to produce 5,000 to 6,000 kg of bromelain powder annually, with projected revenues of Rs12 crore to Rs18 crore per year," Nath said.
The State also plans to establish agro-processing units for manufacturing pineapple juice, pulp, concentrates and dried fruit products, enabling farmers to move beyond the fresh fruit market and benefit from higher value addition.
The festival will feature 25 exhibition stalls displaying pineapple-based products, food-processing technologies and agricultural innovations. Five Queen pineapple growers will also be honoured for their contribution to pineapple cultivation.
State Agriculture Secretary Apurba Ray said the combination of scientific cultivation, processing, branding and improved market access could significantly enhance Tripura's presence in international fruit markets while providing farmers with more stable and higher incomes.
"The initiative could serve as a model for leveraging geographically unique agricultural products to drive rural development and expand India's agri-export basket," he said.
Several dignitaries, including Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Minister of State for DoNER, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha and Members of Parliament are expected to attend the festival.
