In the last eight years, Tripura has made tremendous progress, which people had not witnessed in the past.

This was informed by Power, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath today.

On the day, the Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for five important development projects in different areas of Unakoti district, constructed at a total cost of more than Rs 15 crore.

The Minister inaugurated the Betchhara Rural Market under the Kumarghat Agricultural Sub-Division. Built at a cost of Rs 2.20 crore. He also laid the foundation stone for the new office building of the Kumarghat Electrical Division, which will be constructed at a cost of Rs 5.97 crore.

Besides, the Minister inaugurated the Susangata Seed Processing Centre at Jagannathpur, built at a cost of Rs 1.87 crore and 60 lakh. He also inaugurated the office of the Deputy Director of Agriculture (Horticulture) and Soil Conservation at Kumarghat, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 2.79 crore and 36 lakh.

Later, the Minister said that the per capita income of the people of Tripura has increased from Rs 1 lakh 4 thousand to Rs 1 lakh 98 thousand.

“Almost all of our houses are now pucca houses. Earlier, the number was 78 thousand, but in the last seven years, it has increased to 4 lakh 94 thousand. Another 2.5 lakh houses are being sanctioned. Almost all houses now have piped drinking water connections. Earlier, only 24 thousand houses had such facilities, but now the number has increased to 6 lakh 22 thousand,” he said.

The Minister said that Tripura has no shortage of food and that all poor families are receiving 5 kg of rice per person every month, benefiting 24 lakh 76 thousand people.

“We are wearing good clothes, getting better medical services, and have a good education system. We can say that there is no shortage. Our average life expectancy has increased. Our target is 74 years, and our plan is to increase it to 80 years by 2030,” said the Minister.

The Minister informed that Tripura has witnessed significant infrastructure development, including national highways. The length of national roads, which was earlier 199 kilometres, has now increased to 923 kilometres, an addition of 723 kilometres.

Speaking about farmers’ income, the Minister said that in 2015-16, the average monthly income of farmers was Rs 6,580, which has now increased to Rs 13,590.

“Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, 2,85,571 farmers have received Rs 1,021 crore 21 lakh up to the 23rd instalment. Under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, 4,57,170 farmers have received agricultural loans worth Rs 2,711 crore 12 lakh. Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), where farmers earlier had to pay Rs 220 per kani, they now have to pay only Rs 10,” said the Minister.

He further informed that 2 lakh 72 thousand tonnes of paddy have been purchased from more than 1 lakh 40 thousand farmers at the minimum support price, and Rs 546 crore 39 lakh has been paid.

“In the last eight years, 50 thousand 89 improved agricultural machines have been provided, with a subsidy value of Rs 233.63 crore. During the previous government’s tenure, only 2 thousand 611 machines were provided, with a subsidy amount of Rs 28.35 crore,” he said.

The Minister said that earlier, natural farming was not practised in the state. Currently, 42 thousand farmers are associated with 16 thousand 800 hectares of land under natural farming.

“Since 2018, 204 market development works have been undertaken, with an allocated amount of Rs 461.83 crore. During the previous government’s tenure, only Rs 20.26 crore was spent for 71 markets. Earlier, there was not a single Krishak Bandhu Kendra in the state, but now there are 34. Earlier, there was not a single Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) in the state, but now there are 59,” he added.