Minister Ratan Lal Nath puts forth a range of demands
AGARTALA: Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath put forth a range of demands aimed at enhancing the agricultural and horticultural sectors for the benefit of the farmers. He was speking at the National Agriculture Conference – Rabi Campaign 2026 in New Delhi Tuesday.
He advocated for the inclusion of “local natural calamities” in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) guidelines to provide coverage for issues such as flooding that affect crop insurance.
The Minister proposed the issuance of up to 45,000 additional soil health cards and an increase in the budget allocation for the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme from 20% to 35%. He stressed the importance of these initiatives during his speech, while also stating that the Central Government has provided funds aligned with the State's Action Plan, thereby supporting the state's farmers significantly.
During the previous Rabi season, cultivation encompassed 25,000 hectares of hybrid paddy, 9,500 hectares of Rabi pulses, and 9,700 hectares of Rabi oilseeds, with expectations for summer harvests. Furthermore, for the current Kharif season, the area cultivated under the Chief Minister's Integrated Crop Management Programme spans 37,500 hectares, including various categories such as aromatic rice and summer vegetables.
The Minister highlighted ongoing projects such as the Farmer’s Registry, Digital Crop Survey and a National Framework for Fertilizer Sale as part of the state's efforts to modernize agricultural practices. He noted that Tripura has 16,400 hectares dedicated to natural farming, with 38,000 engaged farmers. He underscored the necessity of promoting bio-formulations and natural farming techniques, along with the establishment of a Natural Seed Grower Consortium to enhance marketing, packaging and branding for farmers.
He sought increased funding for the Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) and the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) schemes to better address agricultural mechanization and irrigation concerns. The Minister expressed the need for farmers affected by heavy rains to receive insurance benefits for their crops highlighting the ongoing challenges they face.
Minister pointed out the untapped potential for cultivating foreign fruit crops like avocado and rambutan in Tripura noting a deficiency in high-quality planting materials essential for successful cultivation.