The Centre and the Tripura government has jointly launched the ₹236-crore “Mission Queen Pineapple”, a major convergence-led initiative aimed at transforming the GI-tagged Tripura Queen Pineapple into a globally recognised premium agricultural brand, officials informed on Thursday.
The three-year mission, running from Q2 FY2026 to Q4 FY2028, was launched by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia along with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha.
Anchored by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), the initiative seeks to strengthen the entire pineapple value chain in Tripura through convergence with multiple central ministries and agencies, including Agriculture, Food Processing, Commerce, MSME, APEDA, ICAR, CSIR, TRIFED and NERAMAC.
Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the Northeast, Scindia said the mission aimed to convert Tripura’s agricultural strengths into globally competitive brands. He stressed that the initiative would move beyond cultivation and integrate farmers into every stage of the value chain, including aggregation, processing, branding, packaging and exports.
Also read: Tripura's Queen pineapple reaches Holland markets
The mission focuses on the GI-tagged Queen Pineapple of Tripura, known for its distinct aroma, sweetness and low-fibre texture. Officials said farmers currently receive only commodity-level prices despite the fruit’s premium quality and export potential.
To address this gap, the project will establish a “Hub and Spoke” post-harvest ecosystem comprising a central hub near Agartala airport and eight collection centres across major pineapple-growing districts, including West Tripura, Khowai and Sepahijala. The infrastructure will include cold storage facilities, grading centres, reefer logistics, solar-powered cold storage and digital traceability systems.
The initiative also includes revival of the Nalkata Pineapple Processing Unit under a viability gap funding model through NERAMAC and private partners for commercial-scale value addition.
Officials said nearly 60 per cent of the pineapple plant, currently discarded as waste, would also be utilised for bromelain extraction, pineapple leaf fibre processing and GI-branded confectionery products, generating opportunities for women’s self-help groups and rural entrepreneurs.
Chief Minister Manik Saha said Tripura’s Queen and Kew pineapple varieties are cultivated naturally in the state’s hilly terrain without chemical inputs, making them exceptionally sweet and aromatic. He added that the initiative would help position Tripura pineapple as a global brand while improving farmers’ income and rural employment opportunities.
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