Tripura to develop tourism around sick tea gardens, export pineapples
New Delhi, April 28: The new BJP-led government in Tripura is keen to boost employment in the state by encouraging tourism around sick tea gardens and boost income of farmers by exporting an exquisite variety of pineapple to Dubai and Hong Kong.
Officials said that hotels, motels, restaurant and lodges will be created near sick tea gardens to encourage tourists to visit and stay there.
"These tea gardens, which are not doing too well in terms of business, are located in serene environment and are surrounded by natural beauty. Once infrastructure is created, tourists are sure to visit these places. It will help create local employment besides helping tea gardens market their produce," an official said.
He said the state government is keen to make Tripura famous within and outside the country for "queen" pineapple.
The Tripura Queen pineapple got the GI tag in 2015.
Officials said that production of queen variety of pineapple, known for its pleasant aroma, sweet taste and golden yellow colour, has faced some constraints as producers do not get a very good price owing to their facing problems in export.
"We have now decided to tap international market for this pineapple variety and have identified Hong Kong and Dubai as prime destinations for export. We are sure that the queen variety will establish itself in the international market due to its sweetness and unique aroma," an official said.
He said that transport arrangements have already been put in place for export of the pineapples and the state government has set an ambitious target.
"The purpose is to ensure that the farmers get double the price of their product. Today they are getting about 15 per pineapple but if their product is sold in foreign countries, they would get double the price of their produce," the official said.
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb told IANS over phone that his government has taken various measures to boost agriculture and tourism sectors.
"Tripura has immense potential in agriculture and the tourism sector but it was not utilised in 25 years of CPI-M rule. We will make Tripura a world class tourism destination and would ensure that the farmers of the state get proper dues for their produce," he said.
"We are taking various measures. We are focusing on branding of some of our special produce. We are talking to every stakeholder and also trying to get into foreign markets," he said.
Deb said the steps are in line with the NDA government's efforts to double the farmers income by 2022.
Officials said that productivity of pineapple in Tripura at 18.73 tonnes per hectare is higher than the national average of 15.80 tonnes.
They said that people know about Assam tea and Darjeeling tea but Tripura, despite having special variety of tea leaves, has not been able to earn a similar reputation.
Tripura has a history of tea plantations going back to 1916 but these suffered during the spells of insurgency in the state. Some tea gardens have also faced problems related to infrastructure, modernisation and management.
The officials said that decisions to boost employment through tourism and agriculture export is in line with the BJP's pre-poll promises.
The party had assured to establish Directorate of Tea Gardens for scientific development of tea and facilitate the socio-economic development of tea plantation workers.
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TN supplier of ghee to Tirupati temple says labs have certified product quality
Chennai (PTI): AR Dairy, a company that supplied ghee to Tirupati Lord Balaji temple, on Friday said their product samples have been duly cleared by authorities certifying its quality.
The Dindigul based firm's spokespersons told reporters that only during the months of June and July they had supplied ghee to the Tirumala Lord Venkateswaraswamy temple.
Even when ghee was supplied to Tirupati temple, it was sent along with duly accredited lab reports.
"There has been no deviations at all." Their firm was only one of the several vendors who had supplied ghee to the TTD and quality certifications had been shared with them.
"Our ghee is not being sent now to Tirupati temple. We don't send," a spokesperson said, adding, their products were available at all places and that these could be tested for quality.
A major row has erupted following Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's claims of low quality ghee and alleged presence of animal fat in the laddus made and distributed at the shrine.
