The demand for state’s organic agricultural products is increasing day by day and the Agriculture Department is also working to increase production.
This was informed today by Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath.
The Minister said this this after chairing an important review meeting on the production, marketing, and market expansion of organic agricultural produce under the MOVCDNER project at the Tripura State Agricultural Research Centre, Arundhutinagar, Agartala.
On this day, the Minister also interacted with organic farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) from different parts of the state and listened carefully to their experiences, problems, challenges, and prospects.
Later, the Minister said that the main aim is to increase farmers’ income along with increasing production.
“Before 2018, we had only 2 FPCs, and now there are 53 FPCs. The aim is to increase farmers’ income. To maintain soil health as well, we are stressing organic farming and working to double farmers’ income through organic farming. We are focusing on organic Kalikhasa, Harinarayan, scented lemon, Queen and Kew pineapple, bird’s eye chilli, ginger, sesame, etc. The demand for our organic products is increasing,” he said.
The Minister informed that the Agriculture Department has exported organic products worth Rs 17 crore to other parts of the country and to foreign countries.
“Today, we also flagged off 1,000 Queen pineapples for Delhi. We will cultivate more organic products. Tripura products are truly organic, and farmers are cultivating these organic crops tirelessly. Our FPOs and the department are working continuously. We have also received high demand for bird’s eye chilli, ginger, turmeric, and pineapple. We have a project worth Rs 234 crore with the help of the Central Government and MDoNER for marketing and processing, etc. On 27 June, Tripura will observe International Pineapple Day in Delhi. Our department is working tirelessly. Though we have limited land, we are working to increase the production of organic products,” he added.
The Minister also flagged off 1 metric ton of premium-quality ‘Queen’ pineapple produced by the state’s Bokhari Organic Producers of Mandai for New Delhi.
On this day, Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department Apurba Roy, Mission Director Rajib Debbarma of Tripura Organic Mission, and others were present.
