Agartala, June 27, 2025: In a major push to double farmers’ income and promote Tripura’s iconic Queen Pineapple internationally, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Thursday announced a ₹132 crore project backed by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
Addressing the 5th CII Tripura Pineapple Festival 2025 at Pragya Bhavan, Minister Nath said the Union government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to globally brand and market the Queen Pineapple using digital platforms, advanced marketing strategies, and post-harvest technologies.
Highlighting the fruit’s significance, Nath noted, “Pineapple ranks third in international trade among tropical fruits, after banana and citrus. Tripura’s Queen and Kew varieties thrive in the state’s hilly, humid terrain with minimal chemical use. The golden-yellow Queen pineapple is particularly prized for its fragrance and flavor.”
Tripura currently cultivates pineapples on 11,862 hectares of land—part of its total 58,491 hectares under fruit cultivation—producing approximately 1.74 lakh metric tonnes annually. Of this, about 10,000 metric tonnes are marketable surplus that meet export standards, according to the minister.
He further stated that while the national average yield stands at 17 tonnes per hectare, Tripura records 14.6 tonnes per hectare on average. The Queen variety, which has received the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag, yields around 12 tonnes per hectare, while the Kew variety performs slightly better at 15.71 tonnes.
“The ₹132 crore DoNER-backed initiative will focus on expanding cultivation to 2,000 hectares initially, reducing post-harvest losses, ensuring year-round production through staggered cropping, and boosting exports. The goal is to transform Queen Pineapple into a globally recognised brand,” Nath added.
The minister also credited the BJP-led government for ushering in tangible benefits for pineapple farmers. “Before 2018, cultivators didn’t enjoy real returns. Under the BJP government, farmers are now witnessing increased income through exports and state support,” he said.
