Silchar, Assam: The NITI Aayog has approved a ₹1.64 crore grant for the “Lakhipur Zero Waste Pineapple Innovation” project in Cachar, Assam, to establish a sustainable processing hub. This initiative, sanctioned under the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) on January 2, 2026, aims to transform the regional agrarian economy by converting pineapple by-products into value-added resources while creating local employment.
📌 Key Facts: Lakhipur Pineapple Innovation Project
- Total Outlay: ₹1,64,00,000 (₹1.64 Crore).
- Funding Agency: NITI Aayog (Aspirational Blocks Programme).
- Implementing Location: Lakhipur Block, Cachar District, Assam.
- Project Timeline: 15 Months (1 Year and 3 Months).
- Primary Objective: Establishment of a Zero-Waste Innovation Hub.
- Beneficiaries: Farmers, Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and Rural Youth.
- Key Official: Mridul Yadav, IAS (District Commissioner, Cachar).
A Landmark Boost for Cachar’s Agrarian Economy
In a move set to redefine sustainable farming in Northeast India, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has greenlit a significant financial injection for the Lakhipur Block of Cachar. The approval, formally communicated on January 2, 2026, follows the 47th Meeting of the Empowered Committee of Secretaries held in late 2025.
The project is designed to tackle the long-standing challenges of post-harvest losses and low price realization for pineapple growers in the Barak Valley. By shifting the focus from raw sales to high-tech “Zero-Waste” processing, the district administration aims to ensure that every part of the fruit—from the crown to the fibrous leaves—contributes to the local GDP.
Transforming Agricultural Waste into Economic Wealth
The “Zero-Waste” philosophy is the cornerstone of this NITI Aayog-funded initiative. Historically, nearly 60% of the pineapple’s weight (including peels, cores, and leaves) is discarded, often leading to environmental degradation.
The new Innovation Hub in Lakhipur will deploy technologies to extract high-value compounds such as Bromelain—a proteolytic enzyme used in the pharmaceutical industry—and dietary fibers. Furthermore, the residual biomass will be converted into organic fertilizers and animal feed, closing the nutrient loop and providing farmers with additional revenue streams beyond just the fruit pulp.
Strategic Impact on Local Livelihoods
District Commissioner Mridul Yadav, IAS, emphasized that this is not merely an industrial project but a social one. “The ₹1.64 crore grant is a milestone that will empower our rural entrepreneurs and Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs),” Yadav stated.
The project structure includes:
- Skill Development: Specialized training for Lakhipur’s youth in modern food processing techniques.
- Market Linkages: Strengthening the value chain to connect Lakhipur’s organic produce with national and global markets.
- Gender Empowerment: Integrating SHGs into the processing and packaging stages of the value chain.
📝 Editor’s Note
The Lakhipur pineapple belt has long been the “fruit basket” of Cachar, yet it has remained vulnerable to market volatility. At Northeast Update, we see this NITI Aayog intervention as a critical pivot point. It moves the region away from subsistence farming toward an industrial “circular economy,” potentially serving as a model for other Aspirational Blocks in the Northeast.
Aligning with the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP)
Lakhipur’s selection is part of the broader Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), which focuses on improving governance and the quality of life in underdeveloped regions. By leveraging Convergence, Collaboration, and Competition, Cachar is setting a benchmark for outcome-driven development.
The project duration of 15 months suggests an aggressive implementation timeline. The Cachar District Administration has already affirmed its commitment to meeting the rigorous monitoring standards set by NITI Aayog to ensure the hub becomes operational by mid-2027.
