<p>The Lakhipur Block of South Assam, otherwise a remote area in the Northeastern part of India, is famous for pineapple cultivation. Of late, it has been in the news for exporting pineapples to foreign lands, a remarkable feat for an area that does not produce export-quality horticultural crops. The local organic pineapple, deemed a lucrative cash crop, combined with a diversified cropping strategy that enables the growth of different fruits and vegetables in the area, can provide sustained income for farmers throughout the year and has the capability to reduce poverty and enhance the quality of life for farming communities in the region. The study examines the quality of life of pineapple-growing households and compares it with that of the non-pineapple-growing households using an asset-based composite index. The level of inequality within the two groups of farmers in the study area is also compared. The study is based on primary data collected from a sample of 272 households. The methodological approach, which uses propensity score matching, asset indices, Gini coefficient, bootstrapping, etc., to compare two population groups, represents a novel contribution in terms of analysis. The findings reveal no significant difference in the asset index values between pineapple-growing and non-pineapple-growing households, suggesting a comparable quality of life. However, the level of inequality between the two groups differs significantly, with greater inequality observed amongst non-pineapple growers. Therefore, this tropical fruit holds promise as a strategic crop for fostering inclusive development in this remote hilly area.</p>