Third edition of Pineapple Fest gets under way
Our Bureau
SHILLONG/NEW DELHI, Aug 1: In a move to strengthen agri-market linkages and enhance national visibility for Meghalaya’s organic produce, the state government on Thursday signed three major Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Reliance Fresh, Amazon Karigar and Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters.
The agreements were formalised during the inauguration of the third edition of the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival at Dilli Haat, New Delhi.
The event was jointly inaugurated by Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, in the presence of senior officials from both the central and state governments.
The festival, now in its third year, has evolved into a national platform spotlighting Meghalaya’s agriculture and its role in the Northeast’s economic transformation.
Praising Meghalaya’s approach, the union minister said, “The products of Meghalaya are almost fully organic. By marketing them well and adding value, you have shown, for the third year, that Meghalaya’s products are truly special. Jackfruit, fruits, coffee, pineapple, mushrooms—everything is amazing.”
“Today, the air in Delhi feels filled with the fragrance of Meghalaya. The breeze, the atmosphere—everything is touched by the flavour of Meghalaya’s pineapples. I already knew that Meghalaya produces very good pineapples. But after tasting them today, I couldn’t stop eating! I have never tasted pineapples so juicy and sweet before. This sweetness in taste belongs to the soil of Meghalaya,” he added.
Chouhan congratulated the chief minister and the farmers for their efforts and assured continued support from the Centre. “On behalf of the Government of India, I assure you, Chief Minister ji, whenever Meghalaya calls, the Government of India and the Agriculture Ministry will always stand with you.”
He then encouraged the residents of Delhi to visit the festival and enjoy the flavours of the Northeast.
Meanwhile, the chief minister highlighted the significance of the MoUs, stating, “The MoUs we have signed today will provide crucial logistics support and help distribute our products across the country. This initiative is not limited to Meghalaya alone—we want to connect fresh produce from across the Northeast to national and international markets.”
“Our state produces around 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of pineapples every year, and a large share of this is consumed within the Northeast itself. Over the past few years, we have set up various fruit processing units to enable value addition—not just for pineapples, but also for turmeric, black pepper, and other produce, with the goal of meeting international packaging and quality standards. Our aim is to establish one such unit in each of the 55 blocks of the state, catering to the prominent value chains in the block,” Conrad added.
Celebrating the festival’s growth, the chief minister said, “This is the third edition of the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival, and we are very happy that every year this is becoming bigger and better. More importantly, our farmers are getting the necessary exposure and the network they require—and they truly deserve.”
The event also showcased Meghalaya’s achievements in the agriculture sector, as part of the state’s Vision@2032 strategy to transform into a USD 10 billion economy. The plan includes a five-year roadmap to enhance infrastructure, promote crop diversification, improve logistics and processing, and raise farmers’ incomes through market-based models.
In the past three years, Meghalaya has invested in over 27 cold storages, 8 processing hubs, and a logistics network including mobile units and refrigerated trucks. In 2024 alone, over 682 metric tonnes of processed pineapples were exported to the EU, Gulf, and Southeast Asia. Additionally, over 150 metric tonnes were sold in Indian metros through institutional partnerships.
It may be mentioned that the ongoing festival features curated stalls by farmer cooperatives, live tastings, value-added products, B2B engagements, and cultural performances from Garo, Khasi and Jaintia musicians under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (CM-MGMP). Performances are being held both at Dilli Haat and India Gate over the three-day festival. A short film on Meghalaya’s agriculture and horticulture journey was also screened.
Organised by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival 2025 runs daily from 11 am to 8:45 pm at Dilli Haat, INA, until August 3.