Agartala, June 16: In a significant milestone for Tripura’s horticulture sector, the first-ever consignment of fresh, juicy pineapples from Bishalgarh was airlifted to New Delhi on Monday. The shipment, weighing 150 kg of the Queen variety, was dispatched via a Farmer Producer Company with assistance from the International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA), Bengaluru.
According to horticulture officials, the pineapples were sourced from the Badyardighi area in Bishalgarh and sent on a special request by a businessman.
These fruits are expected to be served to an international delegation and top-level VIPs in India — marking the first time Bishalgarh’s pineapples have reached the capital.
Bishalgarh MLA Sushanta Deb, Panchayat Samiti Chairperson Atashi Das, and other grassroots-level elected representatives attended the flag off event. Senior horticulture officials, including Superintendent Himanish Laskar and Sector Officer Prabir Dutta, expressed pride and happiness that their dedicated efforts have brought visible benefits to local farmers.
Farmer Hanif Mia, shared that he has already earned ₹70,000 this year from pineapple cultivation on his 1-hectare plot. He receives both technical and financial support from the Bishalgarh Horticulture Sub-Division Office.
MLA Sushanta Deb highlighted that after the BJP-IPFT coalition came to power in 2018, efforts to improve fruit marketing began, resulting in some of the best outcomes in recent years. He emphasized the government’s dual strategy of promoting the cultivation of horticultural crops like pineapple, lemon, and jackfruit, while also reclaiming unused farmland for seasonal fruit farming.
He also praised Agriculture Minister Ratanlal Nath, stating that at 79 years of age, the minister is still inspiring youth to participate in modern agricultural practices — a truly commendable achievement. The MLA expressed optimism that with the consistent efforts of the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments in Bishalgarh, not just pineapples, but other naturally grown fruits like mangoes and lemons will also receive widespread recognition in the near future.
