Reported by Mrinal Banik
Agartala: DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday launched the Rs 236 crore ‘Mission Queen Pineapple’ project in the presence of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath, and said pineapples grown in the northeastern state are carrying India’s goodwill to international markets.
The initiative, launched in New Delhi, aims to create a complete value chain for cultivation, storage, processing, and export of premium-quality pineapples produced in Tripura.
Scindia said the project would focus on strengthening infrastructure and supporting pineapple growers across the state.
Recalling an interaction during his visit to Germany, the minister said the German Agriculture Minister had praised the quality of Indian pineapples despite never having visited India.
“The finest pineapples from the Northeast are now reaching markets like Dubai and Germany. Through these exports, India’s image and goodwill are also travelling abroad,” he said.
Scindia said the growth in exports was aided by the Krishi Udaan scheme introduced during his tenure as Union Civil Aviation Minister, which enabled farmers to transport agricultural produce to overseas destinations at subsidised rates.
According to the minister, eight central agencies have been brought together under the project to develop a sustainable ecosystem for pineapple farmers.
He said the Tripura government would contribute Rs 20 crore, while the DoNER Ministry has allocated Rs 45 crore. The Ministry of Agriculture is contributing Rs 30 crore and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries Rs 25 crore. APEDA, the Ministries of Commerce and MSME, ICAR, and other agencies are also part of the initiative.
Scindia said the project roadmap includes 25 activities covering scientific cultivation, harvesting infrastructure, GI-based branding, and monetisation. A quarterly review mechanism has also been planned to monitor implementation.
He said one central hub and eight spoke centres would be developed across Tripura. The hub is proposed near Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, while the spoke centres would come up in other parts of the state.
The facilities would include integrated cold storage systems, reefer transport units, and IoT-enabled farm monitoring technology, he said, adding that QR-based traceability systems and Artificial Intelligence tools would also be used to improve quality control and market access.
The minister also spoke about a “waste-to-wealth” component under the project, saying pineapple waste could be utilised for bromelain extraction, fibre production from pineapple leaves, and GI-branded confectionery products.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath were also present on the occasion.
In a social media post, Saha said the three-year project would help strengthen Tripura’s agricultural economy and expand the global reach of the state’s pineapple sector.