A farmer from Baidyardighi, Bishalgarh in Tripura, India, has sent the first batch of Queen variety pineapples to New Delhi, weighing 150 kg. The pineapples, dispatched via air freight on a special request from a trader, will be presented to an international delegation and prominent national figures. This event marks the initial pineapple export to the capital from Bishalgarh.
The project was executed by a Farmer Producer Company based in Sepahijala, with technical and logistical support from Bangalore's International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA). Local dignitaries attended the dispatch ceremony, including MLA Sushanta Deb and Panchayat Samiti Chairperson Atashi Das. Department of Horticulture officials, like Superintendent Himanish Laskar, noted the sector's communal effort and farmer commitment in reaching this milestone.
Hanif Miah, a local cultivator, manages pineapple growth over a hectare, attaining earnings of ₹70,000 (US$838) this season. He acknowledged ongoing support from the Bishalgarh Horticulture Subdivision in terms of technical and financial aid.
Over recent years, demand for Tripura's Queen and Kew pineapples has expanded, achieving recognition in the UK, Middle East, and domestic markets, with cultivation tripling accordingly. MLA Sushanta Deb commented, "In the past, due to the lack of market linkage, farmers in Tripura were compelled to sell world-class pineapples... at low prices in Assam and even informally to Bangladesh..." He emphasized efforts since 2018 in marketing enhancements for agricultural products.
Plans include increasing focus on seasonal fruits and nurturing young farmers with modern agricultural techniques.
Source: Tripura Chronicle