Establish ICAR-National Research Centre for Pineapple in Tripura: it's Need of Hour
Prabir Datta
December 17, 2024
Tripura's pineapples are known for their sweetness, aroma, and unique flavor, and are the state fruit of Tripura. Queen pineapple: The most popular variety, this pineapple is spiny, golden yellow in color, and has a pleasant aroma and flavor. It's the state fruit of Tripura and was given a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2015.
Kew pineapple: This variety is spineless, light yellow in color, and has a considerable aroma and flavor. it is suitable for canning. The National Research Centre for Pineapple establish in Tripura is important because it provides research and technology to improve pineapple cultivation in the state level as well as National level. Tripura's pineapples are known for their quality because of the state's ideal climate and soil conditions for growing tropical fruits. Tripura produced 178.45 thousand metric tons of pineapples from 12.57 thousand hectares of land in different districts in the state. Tripura is known for its organic farming practices, which include avoiding chemical pesticides and fertilizer . Pineapple is one of the commercially important fruit crops of India. Total annual world production is estimated at 14.6 million tonnes of fruits. India is the fifth largest producer of pineapple with an annual output of about 1.2 million tonnes. There is no ICAR National Research Center for Pineapple in India. The center ( NRC) will conducts research on pineapple cultivation, including identifying high-yielding varieties, production and protection technologies, and soil characterization , Bio chemical study etc. The center will develops and disseminates technologies to improve pineapple cultivation, such as weed-resistant methods that can produce larger pineapples for Commercial Improvement. The center may provides support to farmers, such as through farming system research. Challenges faced by the pineapple farming sector in our state and nation to propose potential solutions that can help overcome these issues.Promoting value chain Development practices among farmers through educational programs and incentives can contribute to sustainable management in the Pineapple farming sector. Inadequate storage and post-harvest infrastructure lead to significant post-harvest losses in pineapple farming. Absence of processing units contribute to spoilage and wastage of produce. Investing in research on storage facilities, food processing , and improving technology will not only reduce post-harvest losses but also add value to the Pineapple products, creating new avenues for farmers to generate income.
Furthermore, the lack of technical knowledge and training among farmers is another pressing issue. Initiatives such as organizing workshops, training programs, and demonstrations on modern pineapple farming techniques, and integrated pest management can empower farmers with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance productivity and sustainability.. Encouraging the adoption of technologies such as drones, remote sensing, and data analytics can enable farmers to make informed decisions regarding crop planning, irrigation scheduling, and pest control, resulting in improved yields and resource efficiency.
It is high time to addressing these challenges by establish National Research Centre for Pineapple and implementing the suggested solutions, we can pave the way for a thriving agricultural sector in our state, benefitting not only the farmers but also the overall economy.
(Tripurainfo)