Last year on 20th July, 2008, Imphal witnessed the first ever pineapple cum youth festival. The festival was organized by Andro of Imphal East and was held at the Thambal market at Poiroupat in Imphal East. The main target of this festival was to encourage and help find a better market for the cultivators of pineapples.

Manipur is the highest producer and the largest exporter of pineapples in India. It produces pineapples at about 10,000 tonnes per hectare. Like last year, the second edition of the pineapple festival will be held at Khousbung in the Churachandpur district from August 19 to 21.

Over 300 cultivators are expected to participate this year. The main aim of the festival will be to give empowerment of the farmers and to bring all the state pineapple farmers under one common platform for drawing attention of the State government to promote agro-based tourism and horticulture crops in the hilly areas by making a farmer’s policy.

This three-day pineapple festival will include Manipur pineapple show, seminar or workshop, Manipur pineapple musical concert for peace, Manipur pineapple queen contest, free eating joints, cultural session and open market for the farmers and many more.

In the view of being the largest producer of pineapple and other historical background, Manipur Pineapple Festival Committee or MPFC has urged the Chief Minister of Manipur, Okram Ibobi, to declare Pineapple as the state fruit. In the opinion of Dr. TS Gangte, secretary of the festival committee, pineapple is the largest produced fruit in Manipur and can be honored as the State Fruit. Almost 36 million kgs of pineapple are produced in Manipur.

Churachandpur district of Khousabung is the highest producer of pineapple in Manipur. It produces 7,000,000 pineapples every year, followed by Thoubal, which produces 4,500,000 pineapples and Senapati districts, producing 4,000,000. Pineapples are generally planted in over 700 acres of land. The main markets of pineapple are Moirang in Bishnupur district and Churachandpur town and Imphal.

The MPFC leaders want to fix the price of 1 kg of pineapple at not less than INR10, in order to encourage the farmers. History says that in 1947, the fruit was cultivated as a livelihood food by a farmer. With time, it has become the largest fruit producing state, much ahead of orange and lemon.

On being questioned of having two different pineapple festivals in Manipur, Gin Gangte said that there are two types of pineapple grown in Manipur. While the Queen variety of pineapple is found in Thoubal and Imphal East, the Giant Kew are grown in other districts. The Queen variety of Thoubal lasts till July end while others are found till late August.