AGARTALA : In a major initiative aimed at transforming Tripura’s pineapple economy, the Centre and the state government on Wednesday launched the ?236-crore “Mission Queen Pineapple, Tripura” project to boost cultivation, value addition, branding and exports of the state’s famed GI-tagged Queen Pineapple.

The three-year project was launched in New Delhi in the presence of Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and state Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath.

Speaking at the launch event, Nath said Tripura’s unique agro-climatic conditions have made it one of India’s leading pineapple-producing states, with large-scale cultivation of Queen and Kew varieties primarily carried out by tribal farmers.

“The Queen Pineapple, Tripura’s state fruit, carries a Geographical Indication tag and is known for its aroma, golden-yellow colour and low-fibre texture,” Nath said.

Despite its premium quality and high export potential, the minister pointed out that farmers currently receive only ?6 to ?10 per kilogram at the farm-gate level, while processed and export-grade Queen Pineapple can command prices between ?80 and ?150 per kilogram in domestic and international markets.

He said Tripura’s Queen Pineapple is widely regarded as one of the finest varieties in the country due to its sweetness, aroma and nutritional value.

According to the minister, the fruit contains vitamins A, B and C along with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron. Its sweetness level ranges between 13 and 17.2 degree Brix, giving it a balanced sweet-tart flavour.

Nath noted that the export journey of Tripura’s Queen Pineapple began in 2018 with consignments sent to Dubai and later expanded to markets in Qatar, Oman and Bangladesh. Processed pineapple products from the state have also reached Germany and Russia.

The project, officially titled “Pineapple Cultivation and Value Chain Development”, will be implemented between FY 2026 and FY 2028 to address structural bottlenecks limiting the commercial expansion of the fruit.

Funding for the ?236-crore mission includes ?145 crore from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, ?30 crore from the Ministry of Agriculture, ?

25 crore from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, ?20 crore from the Tripura government, and ?4 crore from Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, along with contributions from other central ministries and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

The initiative has been designed around three core pillars – cultivation management, post-harvest processing and value addition, and branding and marketing.

Officials said the project would follow a multi-ministerial coordination model aimed at strengthening the entire pineapple value chain from farm to global markets.

Highlighting an additional economic opportunity, Nath said pineapple leaves, which are currently discarded as agricultural waste, could generate substantial revenue if commercially utilised.

“The leaves that our pineapple farmers throw away today have an economic value of nearly ?1,483 crore. This initiative seeks to convert agricultural waste into economic opportunity using the same land, crop and farmer base,” he said.

The government expects the mission to substantially improve farmers’ income, strengthen export competitiveness and establish Tripura’s GI-tagged Queen Pineapple as a premium international agricultural brand.