Tripura's Queen Pineapple Festival Spurs Rs 11 crore Deals and Global Export Push

The Tripura Global Pineapple Festival 2026 was held in New Delhi, where Chief Minister Manik Saha highlighted the GI‑tagged Queen pineapple as a cultural symbol and a driver of economic growth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a congratulatory message that specifically mentioned the Queen variety.

A buyer‑seller meet on the festival’s second day, inaugurated by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, brought together about 40 buyers and led to 18 Letters of Intent with a cumulative value of roughly Rs 11 crore. Officials said the agreements aim to strengthen value chains, expand processing, improve branding and boost exports, thereby increasing farmer incomes.

Tripura cultivates pineapple on roughly 12,000 hectares, producing around 1.78 lakh metric tonnes annually. The Queen and Kew varieties have earned a Geographical Indication tag and are exported to markets in the Middle East, Europe and South Asia. The state is implementing a Rs 234‑crore project, with central assistance via the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, to enhance marketing, processing and value‑addition for the fruit.