Manipur begins export of organic pineapples to Indian cities

Our Correspondent

Imphal, July 12 (EMN): For the third consecutive year, the Manipur Organic Mission Agency has started exporting locally grown organic pineapples to different cities through air cargo from Sunday.

Out of the total targeted quantity of 220 MT set for this year, the first air shipment of 1.2 MT was flagged off by Chief Minister N Biren Singh in a simple function held at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport on Sunday.

Speaking at the occasion, Singh who also holds the Horticulture and Soil Conservation portfolio, opined that the state needs to work hard to change and upgrade indigenous and local products into the items of global standard. This would serve as a lucrative means for generating income for farmers and people of the state, he said and added that the government would always extend all possible support and also award incentives to hard working farmers.

He also urged the people to be sincere, hard working and committed no matter in what profession they are. He said that no community in this world can match the people of the state in any field if they work hard with conviction and sincerity.

On the report of price hike in the state, he asked the shopkeepers to sell all the items as per the prices fixed by the government.

It may be mentioned that the demand for locally grown organic pineapples has witnessed a steep rise in different cities in the past couple of years due to its unique taste and dedicated efforts from the agency which comes under the department of Horticulture and Social Conservation, government of Manipur.

During 2018 and 2019, the agency exported a total of 250 MT of organic pineapples to cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Chandigarh, and Mumbai. This year as well, it has been able to improve the quantity of export despite the persistent inconveniences given by pandemic Covid-19. A total of around 220 MT of queen variety of pineapples are to be airlifted in different phases to cities like, Delhi, Mumbai, Ludhiana (Chandigarh) with assistance from a local private company known as Krooshi-Karma Naturals Pvt Ltd. These pineapples were grown and produced under Phase-II of Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the Northeast Region. Principal Secretary (Horticulture and Soil Conservation) P Vaiphei and other high ranking officials of the department and the state government were present during the function.