HIGHLIGHTS-
- The Tripura Government is all set to launch the ‘Tripura Pineapple and Jackfruit’ mission.
- The initiative aims to increase the production and value addition of two horticulture crops – pineapple and jackfruit.
- The mission will run for five years.
Tripura has resolved to embark on a mission to encourage the growth of pineapples and jackfruits to facilitate their export to other nations.
The Tripura Government is all set to launch the ‘Tripura Pineapple and Jackfruit Mission’ to increase production and value addition of two horticulture crops – pineapple and jackfruit.
Pineapple and Jackfruit Mission Budget
This initiative will run for five years, beginning April 1, 2022, with a budget of Rs 153 crores.
The state government would sanction Rs 10 crores of the entire budgeted allocation, while the remaining funds will be allocated through other channels, including the North Eastern Council (NEC), Central Special Assistance, DoNER, Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM), and World Bank.
Export of pineapple and jackfruit
Meanwhile, the north-eastern state of Tripura has begun exporting pineapple and jackfruit to European countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany, in addition to neighboring Bangladesh.
Objectives of Mission Pineapple & Jackfruit
“The administration intends to enhance crop production as well as crop value addition.” To secure a greater return, we must establish cold storage and marketing links concurrently,” stated Industries and Commerce Secretary PK Goyal.
Queen pineapple declared as state fruit
Tripura’s queen variety pineapple was designated as the state fruit by President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018. The state has a lot of potential in international trade. The export of pineapples to foreign countries is a significant step toward integrating with global trade, said President Kovind during his address.
Tripura has exported supplies of pineapple and jackfruits, along with lemons, and other fruits, to countries in the Middle East and Europe, as well as numerous countries in Southeast Asia.
Pineapple production in Tripura
Tripura’s 8,800-hectare plantations produce an estimated 1.28 MT of pineapples each year. Some of these orchards are managed by the government, while the majority are privately owned. In the state, around 4,000 pineapple growers are directly involved in the production of the fruit.
