Over 30 tonnes of fresh Meghalaya pineapples were sold during the fourth Meghalaya Pineapple Festival in New Delhi last week, according to a media statement reported by The Hindu BusinessLine. The volume nearly doubled the 15.4 tonnes sold in 2025 and was almost four times the 7.7 tonnes recorded in the festival's inaugural 2023 edition.
Supply Side: Meghalaya's Pineapple Production
Meghalaya produces over 1.4 lakh tonnes of pineapples annually across nearly 12,600 hectares, the statement said. Cultivation is concentrated in Ri-Bhoi, Garo Hills, and parts of the Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills. The fruit is grown under rain-fed conditions and recognised for its exceptional sweetness, rich aroma, low acidity, and a Brix value of 16-18 — significantly higher than the national average.
The state has adopted an integrated approach centered on farmer collectivisation, processing, branding, and market development. Initiatives including CM FARM+, MLAMP, the Meghalaya State Organic Mission, and interventions led by the Meghalaya State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) have built an ecosystem extending beyond cultivation. This ecosystem now includes 40 PRIME hubs (Promotion and Incubation of Market-Driven Enterprises), of which 12 are operational, supported by over 650 spoke facilities for aggregation, storage, and primary processing.
Festival Growth and Institutional Partnerships
The first edition in 2023 introduced Meghalaya's premium pineapples to Delhi consumers. By 2024, the festival had begun facilitating institutional partnerships. The 2025 edition expanded further with collaborations involving Reliance Fresh, Amazon Karigar, and Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, while also serving as the platform for launching the Meghalaya Agriculture Strategy 2028.
| Edition | Pineapple Sold (tonnes) | Key Development |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 (1st) | 7.7 | Introduction to Delhi consumers |
| 2024 (2nd) | Not specified | Institutional partnerships begin |
| 2025 (3rd) | 15.4 | Collaborations with Reliance Fresh, Amazon Karigar, Blue Tokai; Meghalaya Agriculture Strategy 2028 launched |
| 2026 (4th) | 30+ | Continued growth |
Value Addition and Farmer Income
Fresh pineapples sold through organised retail fetch approximately ₹22 per kilogram, the government stated. Once processed into premium retail packs, churrasco pineapple, and export-grade frozen cubes, the same fruit can command prices of up to ₹1,500 per kg. Farmers integrated into these value chains have recorded income gains of up to 80 per cent, according to the Government.
An example is the Jirang Organic Agro Farmer Producer Company (FPC) in Ri-Bhoi district, established in 2017. It brings together 433 farmers across 18 villages, nearly 75 per cent of whom are women. It supplies organised buyers including Lulu Group, Reliance Retail, Safal-Mother Dairy, and Blinkit. The statement said its revenues increased from ₹1.5 lakh during 2017-21 to over ₹1.17 crore in 2025, demonstrating how collective marketing and value addition can transform rural enterprises.
Export and International Market Access
Through initiatives led by MSAMB, more than 100 tonnes of Meghalaya pineapples have already been marketed through organised domestic and international channels. In June 2026, a 2-tonne consignment was flagged off for Lulu Retail in Dubai, the statement said.
Community public-private partnership models have further strengthened local processing infrastructure, reducing post-harvest losses while creating opportunities for higher value realisation.
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