Centre Launches ₹236 Crore ‘Mission Queen Pineapple’ to Transform Tripura into Global Hub

Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha highlighted that pineapple has already been declared the State Fruit of Tripura.

The Government of India has launched an ambitious ₹236 crore "Mission Queen Pineapple" aimed at transforming Tripura's famous GI-tagged Queen Pineapple into a globally recognised premium agricultural brand while significantly improving farmer incomes, rural livelihoods, and export opportunities.

The mission was launched by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia alongside Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha. The initiative is designed as a three-year implementation programme running from Q2 FY2026 to Q4 FY2028.

Officials described the project as one of the most comprehensive horticulture value-chain initiatives undertaken in the North Eastern Region, integrating production, processing, branding, logistics, exports, and bio-economy development around Tripura's signature pineapple variety.

Mission Focuses on Building Complete Pineapple Value Chain

The programme aims to move beyond traditional cultivation and create an integrated ecosystem that allows farmers to participate in every stage of the pineapple economy.

According to Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the objective is not just increasing pineapple production, but ensuring farmers become stakeholders in:

• Aggregation

• Processing

• Packaging

• Branding

• Export marketing

• Value-added manufacturing

"Our goal is to build a complete value chain—from farm to global markets—so that farmers become active participants in the prosperity created by their produce," Scindia said during the launch event.

The Mission is being coordinated by MDoNER in convergence with multiple central ministries and agencies, including:

• Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

• Ministry of Food Processing Industries

• Ministry of Commerce

• Ministry of MSME

• APEDA

• DPIIT

• ICAR

• CSIR

• TRIFED

• NERAMAC

• Government of Tripura

Tripura Queen Pineapple Positioned as Premium GI Brand

Tripura's Queen Pineapple already holds a Geographical Indication (GI) tag and is widely recognised for its:

• Distinct aroma

• Low-fibre texture

• High sweetness

• Natural cultivation methods

Officials noted that despite the premium quality of the fruit, farmers often receive only commodity-level prices due to:

• Weak market integration

• Inadequate post-harvest infrastructure

• Limited processing capacity

• Lack of export-oriented systems

The Mission seeks to bridge these structural gaps and reposition the product as a premium domestic and international brand.

Integrated 'Hub and Spoke' Infrastructure Planned

One of the major components of the Mission is the creation of a modern post-harvest infrastructure network.

The programme will establish:

• One central integrated Hub near Agartala airport

• Eight spoke collection centres across key pineapple-growing districts

The network will cover:

• West Tripura

• Khowai

• Sepahijala districts

The infrastructure ecosystem will include:

• Grading facilities

• Cold storage units

• Reefer transportation systems

• Solar-powered cold storage

• IoT-enabled farm monitoring

• Digital traceability systems

Officials said the infrastructure is intended to reduce post-harvest losses, improve quality control, and support export readiness.

Pineapple Processing Unit to Be Revived

The Government also announced revival of the Nalkata Pineapple Processing Unit through a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) model.

The project will be implemented by NERAMAC in collaboration with private partners.

The processing facility is expected to:

• Support commercial-scale value addition

• Produce pineapple-based processed foods

• Strengthen local agro-industries

• Expand market opportunities for farmers

The move is aimed at increasing the share of processed pineapple products in domestic and export markets.

Waste-to-Wealth Bio-Economy Strategy Introduced

A major innovation under the Mission is the introduction of a pineapple bio-economy strategy.

Officials stated that nearly:

• 60 percent of the pineapple plant

currently goes unused and is treated as waste.

Under the Mission, these by-products will be converted into value-added products through:

• Bromelain extraction

• Pineapple Leaf Fibre (PALF) processing

• GI-branded confectionery manufacturing

The Government expects these activities to create additional livelihood opportunities for:

• Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs)

• Tribal communities

• Rural entrepreneurs

while supporting a circular economy model around pineapple cultivation.

Chief Minister Highlights Natural Cultivation Practices

Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha highlighted that pineapple has already been declared the State Fruit of Tripura.

He noted that Tripura's Queen and Kew pineapple varieties are cultivated naturally in hilly terrain without chemical inputs, contributing to their:

• Superior sweetness

• Juiciness

• Distinct aroma

The Chief Minister said the state government is focusing on:

• Food processing

• Branding

• Packaging

• Market linkages

• Value addition

to improve farmer incomes and generate employment opportunities in rural areas.

Farmers Currently Receiving Low Farmgate Prices

MDoNER Secretary Sanjay Jaju pointed out that despite the premium nature of the crop, smallholder pineapple farmers currently receive only:

• ₹6 to ₹10 per kilogram at the farmgate level

He said processed and export-grade pineapple products can command substantially higher prices in national and international markets.

The Mission therefore seeks to systematically address:

• Post-harvest losses

• Lack of cold-chain integration

• Weak branding systems

• Limited GI monetisation

• Poor buyer linkages

• Insufficient export readiness

GI Monetisation and Export Promotion Planned

The Mission will also introduce several branding and market development initiatives, including:

• GI authorisation workshops

• QR-code based traceability systems

• Organic certification support

• Buyer-seller meets

• Export readiness programmes

• GI monetisation frameworks

Annual flagship promotional events such as the:

• "Tripura Queen Pineapple Festival"

will also be organised in alignment with International Pineapple Day on 27 June.

Northeast Agricultural Branding Gains Momentum

The initiative reflects the Government's broader strategy of positioning the North Eastern Region as a hub for:

• High-value horticulture

• Organic agriculture

• Specialty products

• Export-oriented farming

The Centre has increasingly focused on leveraging GI-tagged products and local agricultural strengths to improve:

• Farmer incomes

• Rural employment

• Export diversification

• Sustainable livelihoods

Officials say Mission Queen Pineapple could become a model for integrated agricultural value-chain development in the Northeast while helping establish Tripura's Queen Pineapple as a globally recognised premium brand.