Tripura’s iconic Queen Pineapple is set to go global. State Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced on Thursday a ₹132 crore project. Its under the Union Ministry of DoNER. Hence, brand, process, and market the fruit internationally.
DoNER Project Aims for Global Branding
The initiative falls under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
Minister Nath said the project will help Tripura consequently, gain a stronger foothold in export markets.
“This is a proud moment. Our Queen Pineapple will be a global brand,” he said during a press briefing in Agartala.
The initiative includes building cold storage, modern packaging units, farmer training centres. Besides, setting up quality control systems.
Why Queen Pineapple?
Tripura’s Queen Pineapple holds Geographical Indication (GI) tag status. It is prized for its sweetness, aroma, and smaller size.
The fruit is mainly grown in districts like Sepahijala, Gomati, and South Tripura.
Over 22,000 hectares in the state are dedicated to pineapple cultivation.
“We want to give our farmers global visibility and a better price,” Nath added.
Export Opportunities and Agro-Economy Boost For DoNER
The government aims to expand exports to countries like Bangladesh, the UAE, UK, and other parts of Southeast Asia.
With improved infrastructure, processing units, and marketing campaigns. Additionally, Tripura is targeting at least a threefold increase in pineapple export volume.
Farmer Training and Market Linkages
Especially, Nath said that a significant portion of the ₹132 crore will go towards farmer empowerment.
Workshops will be held to educate farmers on sustainable farming, post-harvest techniques, and packaging standards for export.
Market linkages with large buyers and exporters will also be established.
The move is expected to increase farmers’ income and reduce post-harvest losses.
Infrastructure Rollout in Phases
The project will be implemented in three phases over the next two years.
PhaseI: Identification of high-yield zones and farmer clusters.
PhaseII: Construction of logistics hubs, quality labs, and cold storage units.
PhaseIII: Brand launch and international marketing campaign.
Political and Public Reactions Over DoNER Project
Leaders across parties welcomed the move. Local MLAs said this would uplift rural economies.
Farmers expressed hope for improved earnings and recognition.
“If implemented seriously, this can change our lives,” said Tapan Debbarma, a farmer from Gomati district.
Global Push Matches State’s Vision
This effort aligns with Tripura’s Vision 2030 plan to double farmers’ income. Also, improve export-oriented agriculture.
Under schemes like PMFME and One District One Product (ODOP). Furthermore, Queen Pineapple has already been marked as a priority product.
The new DoNER-backed initiative complements these efforts with funding and international reach.
Call for Efficient Implementation
While welcoming the plan, several stakeholders called for strict monitoring.
Experts said project success depends on timely rollout and quality standards. Because, Tripura has struggled in the past with infrastructure delays.
Minister Nath assured that a special task force will oversee project implementation. Further, address roadblocks quickly.
Also, the ₹132 crore Tripura Queen Pineapple DoNER project is more than just a branding effort. Moreover, it’s a bold step to put Tripura’s farmers on the global map.
Henceforth, with modern infrastructure, international promotion, and empowered farmers. Nevertheless, Tripura’s signature fruit may soon become a household name worldwide.
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