The
Meghalaya Pineapple Festival 2025
was held in the national capital today, showcasing the state’s premium agricultural produce and drawing a strong commitment from the Centre to enhance
exports and agro-processing infrastructure
in the Northeast. Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
inaugurated the event, which was attended by
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma
, along with senior officials from both the Centre and the State. The event began with the
exchange of multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)
focused on improving pineapple trade and collaboration. A booklet titled
“Meghalaya’s Progress in the Agriculture Sector”
was also released to highlight recent strides in organic and sustainable farming in the state.
“Meghalaya’s Produce is World-Class”
In his keynote address, Shri Chouhan praised Meghalaya’s farmers for their “
hard work and sincerity
,” noting that the state’s pineapples were distinguished by their
exceptional taste and quality
. He added that other produce—such as turmeric, ginger, jackfruit, mushrooms, coffee, and tea—were largely organic and
deserved global recognition
. “The Central Government will collaborate with the state to
promote agricultural exports
beyond the Northeast and abroad,” he said. “The
private sector
too can play a key role in this transformation.” The Union Minister reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
commitment to the development of the North East
, and promised
full central support
for Meghalaya’s growth in agriculture and allied sectors.
Focus on Agri-Processing and Infrastructure
Chouhan revealed that the state had proposed an
‘airlifting’ mechanism
for perishable agri-products—a proposal the Centre was seriously evaluating. Other alternatives such as
rail connectivity for produce transport
would also be considered. He emphasized the importance of
processing units
and said necessary steps were being taken to address
shelf-life issues
for perishable crops. He informed the audience that
scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
were already working on technical solutions, and he would personally visit Meghalaya with a research team soon. “A
development roadmap for agriculture in Meghalaya
is in the works, and it will be created in close coordination with the state government,” he added.
Call for Startups and Youth Involvement
In closing, the Union Minister urged
young entrepreneurs
to explore opportunities in
agriculture-based startups
, particularly in the Northeast. “We have some of the
best natural products in the world
—we should be proud to use and promote them,” he said, appealing to consumers and businesses alike. The festival is part of a broader national initiative to integrate Northeast India into mainstream agri-economy channels through innovation, export readiness, and infrastructure development.
