Arunachal Dy CM inaugurates pineapple festival Bagra 2.0, vows to boost agriculture and farmers’ welfare

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 22, 2025

The Arunachal Pineapple Festival Bagra 2.0 kicked off in Higi Bagra Village, West Siang district, with Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein inaugurating the event as the chief guest on Wednesday.

The festival, organized by the All Bagra Welfare Society (ABWS), aims to celebrate the region’s agricultural strength while promoting tourism, culture, and local cuisines.

In his address, Mein expressed gratitude to the organizers for creating a platform that connects farmers with policymakers, fostering agricultural growth. “Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and as a farmer myself, I understand the challenges and opportunities in this sector,” he said. Emphasizing the potential of Arunachal Pradesh’s vast landmass and favourable agro-climatic conditions, Mein highlighted that Bagra serves as the epicentre of pineapple production, contributing around 9,000 metric tons annually, alongside the region’s thriving orange farming industry.

Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to empowering farmers, Mein stated that both central and state governments, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pema Khandu, have launched multiple initiatives, including Atma-Nirbhar Bhagwani Yojana (ANBY) and Atma-Nirbhar Krishi Yojana (ANKY).

He assured farmers that substantial funds have been allocated to these programs to boost horticulture and agricultural development in Arunachal Pradesh.

Mein acknowledged that marketing agricultural produce remains a major hurdle for farmers, often leading to distress sales at low prices. To address this, he proposed post-harvest management solutions, the establishment of food processing units for value addition and setting up a dedicated Mandi in the Siang Belt.

He urged entrepreneurs to invest in agri-business ventures that enable farmers to sell directly to consumers and wholesalers, eliminating middlemen and ensuring fair prices.

Mein also emphasized the need for Geographical Indication (GI) registration for Bagra Pineapple, which would help secure its unique identity in national and international markets. “By obtaining GI recognition, we can protect and promote our indigenous produce, just as we did with Arunachal Orange,” he stated.

In a major announcement, he revealed plans to showcase Arunachal’s GI products at the Arunachal GI Mahotsav-2025 in New Delhi, providing global exposure to the state’s agricultural products.

The Deputy CM assured farmers that their demands for fencing of pineapple gardens, CC pavement roads from NH-13 to Yamko and Lipu & Pigi-Mengo villages, and official recognition of the Pineapple Festival as a calendar event would be reviewed.

Education, RWD, and Tourism Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona praised the Bagra community for promoting their pineapple industry and emphasized the importance of environmental conservation. “We must protect our green coverage to mitigate global warming while continuing to develop our agricultural economy,” he said.

Mein felicitated progressive farmers, acknowledging their dedication and contributions to the region’s agricultural success.

The festival was attended by prominent leaders including MLA (Basar) Nyabi Jini Dirchi, MLA (Aalo West) Topin Ete, Deputy Commissioner (West Siang) Miss Mamu Hage, DIGP Tumme Amo, and Zilla Parishad Chairperson Tumpe Ete, among others.