‘Meghalaya Pineapple Fest is more than just celebration of our state’s succulent produce’

SHILLONG/NEW DELHI: The Government of Meghalaya organized Meghalaya Pineapple Fest 2023, which kicked off its first day at the iconic Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi, celebrating Meghalaya's famed produce, the succulent Kew pineapples. The event commenced with the distinguished presence of the chief guest, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Giriraj Singh; Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K. Sangma; Cabinet Minister, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department, Dr. Ampareen Lyngdoh; and others.

The Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Giriraj Singh, shared his thoughts on the significance of agricultural diversity and collaboration between states. "I would like to express my appreciation for the Government of Meghalaya's initiative in organizing this event. It's a step in the right direction towards promoting sustainable agricultural practises, fostering inter-state cooperation, and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers," he daid.

Speaking on the occasion, Conrad K. Sangma said, "This event marks a significant moment in our journey to showcase the essence of Meghalaya's culture, agriculture, and unity. The Meghalaya Pineapple Fest is more than just a celebration of our state's succulent produce; it's a platform to share the diversity of our culture, the innovation in our agriculture, and the unity that binds our people."

On the occasion of the 77th Independence Day, the State of Meghalaya outlined its ambitious plan for 'Magnificent Meghalaya.' Aspiring to double the state's GDP, Meghalaya identifies agriculture and allied sectors as pivotal drivers of economic growth. This sector has the potential to create thousands of employment opportunities in the next 5 years.

Meghalaya is blessed with diverse agro-climatic conditions and is home to a wide array of agricultural and horticultural produce. In recent times, the pineapples from the state have gained more popularity. The North-Eastern States contribute a whopping 51.18% of the total pineapple production in the country, with Meghalaya contributing 7.69% (APEDA 2021-22), making the state one of the top 5 pineapple-producing states in India.

The Meghalayan pineapples have the lowest pesticide and heavy metal residues in the country. Also, in regard to taste, they are less sour and significantly sweeter. The pineapples have a Brix value of 16-18, which indicates the sweetness of the fruit. This season has been a fruitful one for pineapple growers in the state, as many have realised an increase of up to 100% in farmgate prices for their produce. As a result of timely marketing interventions from the state government, Meghalayan pineapples are now gracing shelves in malls across the Middle East (Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Kuwait).

The efforts closer to home have resulted in sustained market linkages with domestic processors and retailers. Last year, over 40 tonnes of pineapples were shipped to a Karnataka-based processor to be further exported to European and North American markets. These pineapples were shipped by a farmer collective from a quaint little village called Umdihar. It is situated in the midst of the rolling hills of Ribhoi district, about 50 kilometres from Shillong, with a population of less than 500 households.

The processing units require pineapples weighing a kilogram and above and do not accept fruits of smaller sizes. During harvest season, entire fields are harvested for sale, but only the large pineapples (Grade A) are procured by the processing units. This leaves the farmers with a large quantity of smaller-sized pineapples (Grade B, aka table variety). Since the ripening accelerates post-harvest, these table-variety pineapples are often sold at throwaway prices.

Similar success stories span over products like Lakadong turmeric, ginger, Khasi mandarin, honey, and black pepper. Over the past three years, the government of Meghalaya has focused on driving community-led change in agriculture. This involves forming and strengthening farmer collectives through quality planting material, training, infrastructure development, and market connections, stated a press release.

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