Tripura produces surplus horticulture crops

Agartala, Jun 20 (UNI) Tripura has produced surplus production of horticulture crops like mango, jackfruit, papaya, banana and litchi this year, according to the state Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department (HSCD).

HSCD sources here today said the state had a demand of about 2,14,000 metric tonnes for these crops but the actual production had almost doubled this year.

The production of pineapple had increased considerably, as the state produced about 1,78,000 metric tonnes pineapple, though the target was only one lakh metric tonnes, sources added.

Meanwhile, at least three internationally acclaimed food processing companies, including Dabur Pvt Ltd, had expressed interest to purchase pineapples from Tripura for export quality fruit products.

The HSCD had signed a MoU with Dabur Pvt Ltd, Dharma Satpal Group of Industries and Northeastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Company (NERAMAC) to sell raw pineapples at the tune of 71,000 metric tonnes per year.

''The companies have already set their target and asked the corporation to supply pineapples throughout the year and we are now in the process of ensuring round the year production,'' HSCD officials said.

Presently, Tripura produces 1.06 lakh metric tonnes pineapple covering 3,450 hectares land area, official records stated.

UNI