Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee has called for urgent measures to support farmers cultivating Tripura’s famous Queen pineapple, one of the state’s key agricultural products and a major source of livelihood for tribal communities.
Speaking in Parliament, Bhattacharjee stressed the need for dedicated infrastructure to ensure fair prices and greater access to both domestic and international markets. He urged the central government to establish a specialized pineapple park in Tripura, equipped with modern cold storage facilities and incentives to encourage exports.
Highlighting the crop’s significance, Bhattacharjee noted that nearly one-third of Tripura’s tribal population depends on Queen pineapple cultivation. He underscored the fruit’s unique status: it was declared the official fruit of Tripura in 2018 and later received Geographical Indication (GI) recognition under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, giving it a distinctive identity for trade and marketing.
A pineapple park, Bhattacharjee explained, would allow for value-added processing, such as canning and production of pineapple-based products, thereby enhancing farmers’ earnings and reducing post-harvest losses. The MP also emphasized the need for modern cold storage facilities to maintain quality during transportation and facilitate smoother exports.
“The Queen pineapple is more than just a fruit; it represents the culture, identity, and economic backbone of our tribal farmers,” Bhattacharjee said. “With the right infrastructure and support, we can secure fair prices for our farmers and expand Tripura’s pineapple presence in global markets, strengthening the state’s agriculture-driven economy.”
The MP’s appeal reflects a growing focus on improving agricultural value chains in Tripura, ensuring that local farmers not only grow high-quality produce but also reap the financial benefits through better market access and modern facilities.
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