Stand tall, be a pineapple. Pineapple, the state fruit of Tripura seems to be on the verge of living up to the old adage as the state gears up for Tripura Global Pineapple Festival at New Delhi this month
The BJP state government in Tripura and the farmers growing this luscious GI-tagged fruit will get its global moment under the sun.
Tripura pineapples are seeking to make its presence officially felt in the national Capital.
There are two varieties of this fruit, Queen and Kew varieties. The state government is about to take the next few big steps to make Tripura pineapple a “global brand.”
The Queen pineapple was declared the state fruit in 2918, four years after it attained the GI tag. It is known for its golden yellow hue and distinct aroma.
Its flesh is laden with vitamins, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron. Pineapple is at the core of the three-year long “Mission Queen Pineapple of Tripura” one such centrally-funded farm-to-plate program worth Rs 236 crores launched on May 27.
Tripura is currently witnessing execution of a slew of developmental projects. These schemes are assisted by various central bodies, including Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region headed by Jyotiraditya Scindia.
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Pineapple is cultivated in more than half of the eight districts of the state. Tribal population comprising more than 30 per cent of the state contributes a significant share.
Pineapples have a wide range of ancillary products such as thread derived from its leaves, jam, jelly. All these will make their debut at the three-day festival to be hosted at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on June 27.
It is the International Pineapple Day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend.
The Queen and Kew varieties flourish beside paddy and sugarcane in Tripura’s remote hills, especially i. In Gomati district’s Killa region.
One of the USPs to pineapple cultivation is the zero to minimal use of chemicals in its cultivation almost the entire year round. Queen and Kew are exported to UAE and Bangladesh.
Canned pineapples are also exported to Germany and Russia. It is time to explore markets in South East Asia, Middle East and Europe.
