Agartala, October 11 (). Two more districts of Tripura, Dhalai and Khowai, will soon become self-sufficient in food grain production. The state government is also promoting urban farming in cities. This information was given by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Saturday.
The minister said that out of the total eight districts of the state, South Tripura, Sipahijala and Gomti districts have already become self-sufficient in food grain production.
After virtually listening to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address and launch of two ambitious schemes in the agriculture sector, Nath said Tripura receives adequate rainfall, which keeps production good, but pest attacks on crops are a big problem.
Nath said, “Earlier we had to import potatoes from outside, but in the next three years we will become self-sufficient in potato and onion production as well. We are encouraging farmers to grow more pulses. Also, emphasis is being laid on organic farming and production is gradually increasing.”
He said that cultivable land is limited in the state, due to which production remains limited. He said, “If we had more land, we could have produced more. Our farmers are very hardworking. If rainfall is favourable, Dhalai and Khowai districts will also become self-sufficient in food grain production. Due to high population and less land in West Tripura district, we are focusing on urban farming, especially horticulture.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched two major schemes in the agriculture sector, PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana and Pulses Self-Reliance Mission with a budget of Rs 35,440 crore.
Apart from Agriculture Minister Nath, Chief Minister Manik Saha and senior officials also joined the program virtually from Agartala.
Nath said that the objective of PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana is to benefit those 100 districts in which food grain production is less. North Tripura district is also included in these. North Tripura district lags behind in the production of many crops, while South Tripura, Sipahijala and Gomti districts are already self-sufficient. Khowai, Dhalai, Unikoti and West Tripura districts are also lagging behind.
“Tripura ranks sixth in paddy production in the country. The national average is 2,882 kg per hectare, while in Tripura it is 3,299 kg per hectare,” he said.
The national average in pulse production is 881 kg per hectare, while in Tripura it is 856 kg per hectare, which is slightly less.
Nath said that Sipahijala district is at the first place in agricultural loan distribution, followed by South and then West district, while North Tripura has distributed the least agricultural loan. All these aspects are being monitored at the national level.
He also informed that the Agriculture Department is giving special emphasis on pulse production.
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