Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed happiness that Meghalaya’s pineapples are getting the recognition they deserve in domestic and international markets.
He said it is also empowering the farmers of the state. “Happy to see Meghalaya’s Pineapples receiving the recognition they deserve both domestically and internationally. Such endeavors not only celebrate our diverse agricultural heritage but also empower our farmers,” Modi said in X, formerly Twitter.
The Meghalaya Pineapple Fest – 2023, organised by the Government of Meghalaya is being held at the iconic Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi, to celebrate Meghalaya’s famed produce, the succulent Kew pineapples.
The Meghalaya pineapples are famous for their high-sugar content (brix value of 16-18) and low sourness. The pineapples in the State are mostly being cultivated without any use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, resulting in significantly lower heavy metal and pesticide residue in the fruit.
The North-Eastern states contribute a whopping 51.18 per cent of the total pineapple production in the country, with Meghalaya contributing 7.69 per cent (APEDA 2021-22), making the State one of the top five pineapple producing states in India.
The Meghalayan pineapples have the lowest pesticide and heavy metal residue in the country. Also, in regard to taste, they are less sour and significantly sweeter. The pineapples have a Brix value of 16-18, which indicates the sweetness of the fruit.
