Shillong, Aug 4: A sweet success was brought to the state by Meghalaya Pineapple Festival 2025 as over 15 MT pineapples were sold at the three-day fair that concluded at Dilli Haat in New Delhi on Sunday.
The third edition of the festival also witnessed signing of MoUs with Reliance Fresh, Amazon Karigar, and Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, ensuring better nationwide procurement, retail access, and logistics for the state’s agricultural produces.
Promotion of the state’s organically grown pineapples, strengthening of grassroots entrepreneurship, and expanding agri-logistics network were the key takeaways from the festival.
Taking part in the festival was a personal milestone for Reena Nongrum of Ri-Bhoi. “From a small-scale tailor to owning a food processing unit, I’m proud to scale my venture,” she said as visitors thronged her stall for pineapple candies, jams, and dried fruit. These products are now finding markets in Delhi, Kolkata, and Kerala.
The festival’s spirit was further boosted by cultural performances under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project.
A young artiste, who performed at India Gate to promote Meghalaya’s produces, shared: “To sing in front of India Gate as a grassroots musician from Meghalaya was emotional. This festival is more than pineapples; it’s about identity, pride, and recognition.”
Visitors, too, voiced their delight. “These are the tastiest pineapples in the world!” exclaimed one from Bangalore. Another added: “The pineapples from Meghalaya taste absolutely divine, and I am deeply grateful to the farmers and people of Meghalaya.”
With 27 cold storages, seven processing hubs, and over 682 MT of processed pineapples already exported worldwide, Meghalaya has signalled its readiness to scale further, aided by this year’s landmark retail partnerships.
Earlier, the festival was inaugurated by union agriculture and rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
“Truly, if there is a heaven on Earth, it is in Meghalaya. Whenever Meghalaya calls, the Union Government and the Ministry of Agriculture will stand with you,” Chauhan said while hailing the growth of public-private partnerships in the state’s agriculture sector.
On the occasion, chief minister Conrad K Sangma underlined agriculture’s centrality to the state’s Vision@2032, where Meghalaya aims for a $16 billion economy.
“Meghalaya’s pineapples have taken the global market by storm. Our pineapples are popular not only for their sweetness but are grown organically, reflecting the care and attention our farmers provide in growing them,” he said.
Pointing to the strength of rural entrepreneurship, he added: “Our rural communities are together weaving the AtmaNirbhar future of Meghalaya.”
