Agartala/New Delhi, June 27: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Saturday inaugurated the Global Pineapple Festival 2026 at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi, reaffirming the state's commitment to promoting its world-famous GI-tagged Queen Pineapple in domestic and international markets.
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| Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Union Minister of State for DoNER Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, and Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath at the inauguration of the Global Pineapple Festival 2026 in New Delhi, showcasing the state's GI-tagged Queen Pineapple and promoting Tripura's horticultural excellence. (Image: X/DrManikSaha2) |
The inaugural session was attended by Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Tripura Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, senior government officials, farmers, traders, exporters, and other dignitaries.
Describing the festival as a celebration of Tripura's rich agricultural heritage, Chief Minister Manik Saha said the three-day event showcases the immense potential of the state's hardworking pineapple farmers, whose dedication has earned the Queen Pineapple global recognition. He expressed confidence that the festival would strengthen market linkages, enhance farmers' prosperity, and take Tripura's premium pineapple to new international markets.
The festival has brought together policymakers, buyers, exporters, and entrepreneurs from across the country with the objective of positioning the GI-tagged Queen Pineapple as a premium agricultural brand while strengthening Tripura's reputation as a leading horticulture hub in Northeast India.
Highlighting the state's vision for the sector, the Chief Minister said the government plans to expand Queen Pineapple cultivation from 12,000 hectares to 15,000 hectares over the next three years. Two bromelain extraction centres will also be established in Agartala and Gomati district to promote value addition and create new opportunities for farmers.
Nearly 25 exhibition stalls have been set up at the festival, showcasing Tripura's agricultural products, tourism destinations, handicrafts, rural industries, and government development initiatives.
Tripura's Queen Pineapple received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2018 and has since emerged as one of the state's flagship horticultural products. With an estimated production of around 1.78 lakh metric tonnes this year, the state aims to establish a robust value chain to improve exports and increase farmers' incomes.
The state government has also launched a ₹234 crore project, supported by the Ministry of DoNER, for the marketing and processing of Queen Pineapple. Alongside this, the Mission Queen Pineapple initiative seeks to increase production, strengthen post-harvest infrastructure, enhance value addition, and ensure better returns for pineapple growers, reinforcing Tripura's position as a major horticultural destination in India.
