The first consignment of Tripura’s queen variety pineapple has been sent to Oman via Guwahati on Thursday through the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) Limited.
PB Jamatia, the director of horticulture and soil conservation, stated that the state government has been working as a facilitator in the marketing process of horticultural products.
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“We are working on quality production at an enhanced scale. Besides supporting the farmers, the department has been facilitating the registered marketing agencies to export the products at a good price,” he said.
Pineapple production in Tripura has increased from 1.27 lakh MT in 2017-18 to 1.72 lakh MT in 2022-23, thanks to the scaling up of marketing facilities. Over the past five years, Tripura has exported various horticultural products, including pineapples, jackfruits, wood apples, Emile, and ginger, to different countries. NEERAMAC is hosting a horticulture promotion fair in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, exclusively for Tripura on June 22, where a variety of products will be exhibited.
NERAMAC officials reported that a 600 kg consignment of pineapples was dispatched to Oman via Guwahati, with plans to send at least 6 MT of queen variety pineapples to Dubai by the end of the month. Export negotiations are also underway with Halland and other European Union countries. Tripura has produced over 2 lakh MT of queen pineapple, mainly in private orchards, with more than 60 MT having export potential based on size, quality, and production surplus.
Agriculture minister Ratan Lal Nath welcomed the export promotion initiatives undertaken by NEERAMAC, highlighting the significant boost in agricultural activities since the BJP came to power in 2018. He said farmers now receive Rs 32 per kg for pineapples, compared to Rs 2 per piece during the Left Front rule. The increased demand for pineapples in both domestic and international markets has led to a rise in prices, with each pineapple costing between Rs 20 and Rs 40 in the local market, the minister added.
Tripura has secured the GI tag for several products, including Rignai and Risha (indigenous ladies’ costumes), Matabari Peda (sweet milk product), and queen pineapple, with more products in the queue.
This strategic move aims to enhance the visibility of Tripura’s agricultural produce and boost economic growth in the state.
Courtsey :TOI