At Higi Bagra Village in the West Siang district, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein inaugurated the Arunachal Pineapple Festival Bagra 2.0, underlining the intrinsic worth of agriculture and how it blends with local culture and tourism
At the opening of the Arunachal Pineapple Festival Bagra 2.0 at Higi Bagra Village in the West Siang district, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein stressed the economic importance of agriculture and how it melds with local culture and tourism. Mein complimented the All Bagra Welfare Society for arranging the event together, stressed the 9,000 metric tons of pineapples cultivated in the area each year, and advised farmers to take into account governmental initiatives such as the Atma-Nirbhar Bhagwani Yojana (ANBY) and the Atma-Nirbhar Krishi Yojana (ANKY). In a bid to raise farmers’ incomes and access to worldwide markets, he also underscored the significance of post-harvest solutions, facilities for food processing, and specific mandi in the Siang Belt.
The Deputy Chief Minister announced plans for the Arunachal GI Mahotsav-2025 in New Delhi and suggested that Bagra Pineapple be registered as a Geographical Indication (GI) to increase its recognition. Local officials, such as Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona, who praised the initiative’s cultural and environmental benefits, and other dignitaries who honored the commitment of Bagra’s agricultural community participated in the celebration.
Mein also stated that Bagra is the hub of Arunachal Pradesh’s pineapple industry, with the West Siang district alone exporting about 9,000 metric tons a year. He maintained, “The region is also known for its oranges, which further illustrate its agricultural potential, with 265 farmers engaged in pineapple farming in the area.” He highlighted that the state already has a variety of GI-tagged goods, such as Arunachal Orange, and underscored the value of GI registration for goods like the Bagra Pineapple.
Mein gave the assurance that the state government is dedicated to helping the farming sector and encouraged local farmers to advance their agricultural endeavors. He said that initiatives like the Atma-Nirbhar Krishi Yojana (ANKY) and the Atma-Nirbhar Bhagwani Yojana (ANBY) are meant to empower farming communities throughout the state. He went on to say that these initiatives have received a significant amount of cash in order to support Arunachal Pradesh’s agricultural growth.
He also talked about one of the main issues that Arunachal Pradesh farmers have with regard to selling their produce. “I understand the difficulties our farmers experience, as even high-quality produce can occasionally be sold for poor rates. He stated that “post-harvest management solutions are urgently needed” and recommended the construction of a Mandi in the Siang Belt as well as food processing facilities for value addition.
Additionally, he encouraged business owners to look into projects that will help farmers’ financial circumstances since they will be selling their goods directly to customers or wholesalers rather than via intermediaries.
