Tripura sent Kew Pineapple and organic Turmeric to Kolkata & for export

Agartala, Jul 12 (UNI) Continuing the export efforts of Tripura government, the horticulture department has dispatched a consignment of 1000 kilograms of Kew variety pineapples and 1,800 kilograms of organic turmeric to Kolkata by Sealdah express for local consumers and export markets.
The officials said producers of Unokoti district were paid Rs 14 per piece of pineapple and Rs 19 for each kilogram of organic turmeric.
The purchaser Big Basket has executed the deal with the help of Sikkim State Cooperative Supply Marketing Federation Ltd, an organic retail agency.
Unokoti Organic Producer Group Ltd, a group of 512 farmers of the district had last week also sent one metric ton pineapples and five metric ton organic turmeric. In spite of great difficulties due to Covid pandemic, Tripura has already sent eight consignments of pineapple and lemon to UK and Middle East and more than 20
consignments to different Indian cities in last two months, officials claimed.
The export promotion bid of pineapple and lemon has hike the price of the produce in the local market and the incidences of getting spoiled the products have been reduced to zero this year, the officials stated adding besides, Kishan rail service, airlines have also reduced their rates for carrying the goods from Agartala to other parts of the country that yielded a very good result.
Along with pineapple, lemon and jackfruit, the state government had exported wood apple and tamarind produced here to the outside of the state as well as to neighboring Bangladesh this year. Despite the Corona situation, 677 metric tons of wood apples were exported from the state to Bangladesh at the cost of Rs 10 for each.
Besides, 65 metric tons of tamarind had also been exported to Bangladesh, which was purchased from farmers at Rs 38 per kg, said Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Pranajit Singharoy.
Wood apple and tamarind are not yet commercially grown in Tripura, and farmers will be more interested in these products from now on as a result of the state government’s initiative, he hoped.