New Delhi, August 1: The third edition of the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival officially commenced today at Dilli Haat in New Delhi, marking the return of “India’s Sweetest Festival.” The festival aims to highlight Meghalaya’s agricultural achievements and its potential impact on India’s farming sector.
The inauguration was led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, alongside Conrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, and other senior government officials.
A significant development at the festival was the signing of three major Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) by the Government of Meghalaya with Reliance Fresh, Amazon Karigar, and Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters. These agreements are set to enhance the procurement, visibility, and national distribution of Meghalaya’s agricultural products.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lauded Meghalaya’s value chain approach, emphasizing the organic nature and unique quality of the state’s produce, including jackfruit, coffee, and mushrooms, in addition to pineapples. He expressed his delight with the sweetness and juiciness of Meghalaya’s pineapples, stating he had “never tasted pineapples so juicy and sweet before.” Chouhan also assured the Chief Minister of the Government of India’s full support for Meghalaya’s agricultural initiatives.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma highlighted the festival’s role in providing farmers with essential exposure and networking opportunities. He stated that Meghalaya produces approximately 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of pineapples annually, with a significant portion consumed within the Northeast. He also mentioned the establishment of various fruit processing units for value addition to products like pineapples, turmeric, and black pepper, with a goal of setting up one such unit in each of the state’s 55 blocks. Sangma added that the newly signed MoUs would provide crucial logistical support for distributing Meghalaya’s products nationwide, with an ambition to connect fresh produce from across the Northeast to national and international markets.
The event also featured the unveiling of “Meghalaya’s Achievement in Agriculture Sector,” aligning with the state’s Vision@2032, which aims to transform Meghalaya into a $16 billion economy. The strategy includes a five-year plan to strengthen farm infrastructure, promote crop diversification, improve processing and logistics, and increase farmers’ incomes through market-based models.
Over the past three years, Meghalaya has invested in more than 27 cold storages, 8 processing hubs, and various logistics support, including mobile units and refrigerated trucks. In 2024, over 682 metric tonnes of processed pineapples were exported to the EU, Gulf, and Southeast Asia, while more than 150 metric tonnes were sold in Indian metros through institutional partnerships.
The festival, organized by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, features stalls from various cooperatives, live tastings, value-added products, B2B interactions, and cultural performances by Meghalaya musicians from Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (CM-MGMP). CM-MGMP musicians are scheduled to perform at both Dilli Haat, INA, and India Gate throughout the three-day festival. A short film on ‘Meghalaya Agriculture & Horticulture’ was also screened.
The Meghalaya Pineapple Festival 2025 is open to the public at Dilli Haat, INA, from 11 AM to 8:45 PM daily until August 3, with free entry.
