Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launches integrated farm-to-export initiative aimed at transforming Tripura’s signature pineapple into a high-value international horticulture brand

In a decisive push to elevate the commercial potential of one of Northeast India’s most distinctive horticultural products, the Government of India has unveiled a ₹236 crore mission designed to transform Tripura’s GI-tagged Queen Pineapple from a regional specialty into a globally recognized premium agricultural brand.

Launched by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia alongside Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha, the Mission Queen Pineapple represents a three-year, convergence-led strategy aimed at building an integrated value chain around the state’s flagship fruit.

Positioned as a cornerstone of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to unlock the economic potential of the Northeast through high-value agriculture, the initiative seeks to move beyond conventional cultivation by integrating production, processing, branding, logistics, value addition, and exports into a unified commercial ecosystem.

“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Tripura’s agricultural strengths are being transformed into globally competitive brands,” Scindia said during the launch. “Our objective is not merely to grow pineapples but to ensure farmers participate across the entire value chain—from production and aggregation to processing, branding, packaging, and international markets.”

The mission, scheduled for implementation between FY2026 and FY2028, will be anchored by the Ministry of DoNER while drawing support from multiple central agencies, including the Ministries of Agriculture, Food Processing Industries, Commerce, MSME, APEDA, ICAR, CSIR, TRIFED, NERAMAC, and the Government of Tripura.

At the heart of the programme is the creation of a Hub-and-Spoke post-harvest infrastructure network, featuring a central aggregation hub near Agartala airport and eight satellite collection centres across major pineapple-growing districts, including West Tripura, Khowai, and Sepahijala. The facilities will incorporate grading units, cold storage infrastructure, reefer transportation systems, solar-powered storage solutions, IoT-enabled farm monitoring, and digital traceability platforms designed to improve product quality and market access.

The initiative also aims to address one of the sector’s longstanding challenges: the disconnect between the premium characteristics of Tripura’s Queen Pineapple and the prices received by growers. Despite its distinctive aroma, low-fibre texture, and geographical indication status, farmers currently receive only modest farmgate prices, limiting income realization.

To capture greater value within the state, the mission includes plans to revive the Nalkata Pineapple Processing Unit through a viability-gap funding model implemented by NERAMAC in partnership with private-sector players. The facility is expected to support large-scale processing and the development of pineapple-based value-added products for domestic and export markets.

Beyond fruit processing, the programme also incorporates an ambitious bio-economy component. Nearly 60 percent of the pineapple plant, which is currently discarded after harvest, will be redirected into commercial applications through bromelain extraction, pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) production, and GI-branded confectionery manufacturing. Policymakers expect these initiatives to generate additional income streams while creating opportunities for women’s self-help groups, tribal communities, and rural entrepreneurs.

Chief Minister Manik Saha emphasized that Tripura’s Queen and Kew pineapple varieties are cultivated naturally in the state’s hilly terrain with minimal chemical inputs, contributing to their reputation for sweetness, juiciness, and distinctive flavor profiles. He noted that strengthening processing, branding, and market linkages would be critical to translating these advantages into higher farmer incomes and rural employment generation.

The mission will also focus heavily on market development and brand building. Planned interventions include GI authorization workshops, QR-code-based traceability systems, buyer-seller meets, export-readiness programmes, organic certification support, and annual promotional events such as the Tripura Queen Pineapple Festival, to be aligned with International Pineapple Day on June 27.

According to officials, the broader ambition extends well beyond increasing pineapple production. By creating a structured ecosystem around one of the region’s most recognizable agricultural products, policymakers hope to demonstrate how geographical indications, value-added processing, and coordinated public-private investment can reshape rural economies.

If successful, Mission Queen Pineapple could become a template for leveraging specialty crops as engines of regional development—transforming Tripura’s celebrated fruit from a local agricultural asset into a globally traded premium brand while ensuring a larger share of value remains with the farmers who cultivate it.