History and Background
Tripura is India’s one of the largest pineapple growing states in India. This is also the land of jackfruits, litchis, oranges, limes, lemons, and coconuts. Factors like good rainfall, hilly terrain, and ideal tropical conditions facilitates the abundant production of these fruits in the state. The state is known for its organic farming and discourage the practice of using pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
On June 7, 2018, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind declared the much famous Queen pineapple as the state fruit of Tripura. In 2015, Queen pineapple received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Features
The Queen pineapple variety produces golden-yellow, spiky fruit with a sweet scent. The special sweet aroma differentiates itself from other varieties of pineapple. This pineapple weighs between 600 and 800 grammes on average. Juice is a vivid yellow colour. The fruit’s TSS (Total Soluble Solids), which varies according on the season and maturity stage, ranges from 10 to 14 Brix. pH ranges from 4.0 to 4.5. Water content ranges from 80% to 90%.
Cultivation
When their eyes turn yellow, this is the ideal moment to harvest the fruit. Typically, this takes place between mid-May and mid-July. Currently, there are a lot of Queen pineapples available in the market.
Uses
The pineapple plant’s many parts are used in medicine to treat a variety of illnesses. The fruit and root are used topically and as an anti-inflammatory and proteolytic agent, respectively. It is also utilised as an antiparasitic. Diarrhoea can be treated using a root decoction. This pineapple’s size and deep eyes make it unsuitable for slices. This pineapple, however, is canned for use in the future to make juice. After canning, the leftover components are utilised to manufacture alcohol, vinegar, and animal feed.
Future
The government is currently putting a lot of effort into creating a scientific method for growing a range of larger, longer-lasting pineapples. The goal is to scale up the production to generate more income to the farmers. More countries like Bangladesh and Dubai are demanding more of the product which increases the exports.
References
https://sahasa.in/2020/10/14/tripura-queen-pineapple/
https://krishijagran.com/agripedia/queen-pineapple-of-tripura-what-s-so-special-about-this-variety/
