PINEAPPLE CULTIVATION IN NORTH EAST INDIA - A PROSPECTIVE VENTURE

North-Eastern India, comprising eight states with a total geographical area of 2.62 million km2, has a high potential for pineapple cultivation. The region has fertile and organically rich soils, ample rainfall, water resources and great climatic diversity supporting diverse cropping possibilities. With the progress already made and the potentials of the region already demonstrated as a result of adopting modern technological approaches viz. staggering technique, high density planting (HDP), and organic cultivation and certification pineapple yield and quality are better and cultivation of pineapple in the region has good potential. The government of India, having identified the potential of the North East region for horticultural crops, started a project ‘Horticulture Technology Mission’ in the year 2001. This resulted in 140.7% increase in the area and production of pineapple. The region produces more than 40% of the total pineapple of the country and 90 to 95% of the produce is organic. The common cultivars grown are ‘Giant Kew’ and ‘Queen’. Pineapples produced from this region are qualitatively different and are said to be among the “Best in the world as they are very sweet (high TSS) and have less fiber”. In the context of tremendous national and global market demand for organic pineapples as well as low volume of such products, this area of India is an ideal area to explore for pineapple cultivation. The region being an agrarian society with an average of 80% tribal population, this venture will result in a breakthrough of social empowerment of the tribal people of the North East states of India.