Agartala, June 8: Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Monday reiterated the state government’s commitment to strengthening organic farming and enhancing farmers’ incomes, while chairing a high-level review meeting on the production, marketing and expansion of organic agricultural products under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) project.
The meeting, held at the Tripura State Agricultural Research Centre in Arundhutinagar, focused on improving the quality of organic produce, expanding market access, ensuring value addition and creating better income opportunities for farmers.
Addressing officials, organic cultivators and representatives of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Nath emphasized that organic farming is not only an environmentally sustainable agricultural practice but also a key driver of rural economic development.
“Our goal is to expand organic cultivation, build a sustainable agricultural ecosystem and ensure the socio-economic development of farmers,” the minister said while interacting with stakeholders and reviewing progress under the project.
Highlighting the growth of farmer collectives in the state, Nath noted that Tripura had only two Farmer Producer Organizations before 2018, whereas the number has now increased to 53. He said the government is working to double farmers’ income through organic farming while simultaneously protecting soil health and promoting climate-resilient agriculture.
The minister said several indigenous and high-value crops, including Kali Khasa rice, Harinarayan rice, aromatic lemon, Queen and Kew pineapples, Bird’s Eye chilli, ginger and sesame, are being actively promoted to cater to growing domestic and international demand.
Nath revealed that Tripura has already exported organic produce worth nearly Rs 17 crore to markets within the country and abroad. As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen market connectivity, a consignment of 1,000 Queen pineapples was dispatched to Delhi on Monday.
To further boost processing, branding and marketing infrastructure, the state has undertaken a Rs 234-crore project with support from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). Tripura will also showcase its premium organic products during the International Pineapple Day celebrations in New Delhi on June 27.
Senior officials, including Agriculture Secretary Apurba Roy and Tripura Organic Mission Director Rajib Debbarma, attended the meeting.
