Curtain comes down on second edition of M’laya Pineapple Festival in Delhi; 6.5 tonnes of pineapples sold in four days
SHILLONG, July 14: An impressive 6.5 tonnes of organically grown sweet pineapples from Meghalaya were sold during the Pineapple Festival 2024, which culminated in New Delhi on Sunday.
According to a statement here, Meghalaya had exported 9-10 tonnes for the Pineapple Festival 2024, which was organised by the state government at the iconic Dilli Haat.
The final day of the Pineapple Festival was attended by Conrad K Sangma, who paid a visit to the Meghalaya Farmers’ Market and engaged with farmers and entrepreneurs, exploring the exhibits of the festival.
During the programme, Conrad underscored the state government’s investment of Rs. 5.63 crore in infrastructure and Rs. 1.39 crore in working capital, with Rs. 78 lakhs allocated specifically for pineapples until 2023.
He also shed light on significant developments in the pineapple industry and informed that 11 Collective Marketing Centres (CMC) were set up for trading fresh pineapples.
The chief minister then informed that 338 Integrated Village Cooperative Societies (IVCS) and 28 Organic Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) have been established to subvert the influence of middlemen and price fluctuations in the fresh fruits segment of the market.
With upcoming initiatives like the launch of Agri Response Vehicles, Warehouses, and Farmer’s markets, these co-operatives act as formidable trading partners for institutional buyers and as a capable exporter handling logistic issues, he said.
With the aim of doubling farmers’ income, Conrad said the state government has initiated mission-mode interventions for high-value commercial crops.
“These interventions, covering turmeric, ginger, mushroom, apiculture, spice, Khasi Mandarin, pineapple and more, are designed to be holistic, community-centric endeavours with the farmer at the heart of it all,” he stated.
Informing that farmers were provided interest-free working capital loans in 2023-24, Conrad said the establishment of six processing units with a capacity of 1160MT per year, supported by an investment of Rs. 5.63 crore, has enabled the manufacturing of juices, concentrates and pineapple candies.
Conrad also mentioned exploring Community Public Private Partnerships (CPPP) to make the interventions holistic.
It may be mentioned that the festival witnessed the presence of thousands of visitors savouring Meghalaya’s organically grown pineapples and witnessing live performances by Meghalaya Grassroot Music Project (MGMP) artistes.
“The Pineapple Festival has not only highlighted the agricultural excellence of Meghalaya but has also provided a vibrant cultural experience through music and arts. The collaboration with MGMP artists added a unique and lively dimension to the festival, drawing in crowds and fostering a deeper appreciation for the region’s cultural richness,” the statement said.
