Tripura Agri Minister joins paddy plantation drive, urges modern farming
Agartala, Aug 4
Tripura Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Tuesday reaffirmed the state government's commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector and improving the welfare of the farming community by participating in a paddy plantation programme at Gajaria village in West Tripura.
The programme was attended by senior officials of the Agriculture Department, local public representatives, and a large number of farmers, reflecting the government's sustained efforts to promote scientific, sustainable, and technology‑driven agricultural practices across the state.
After planting paddy alongside farmers, the Minister said that agriculture continues to be one of the principal pillars of Tripura's economy and that the state's food security largely depends on the dedication, hard work, and perseverance of its farming community.
He emphasised that the use of high‑quality seeds, adoption of modern cultivation techniques, and implementation of scientific farming practices can substantially enhance crop productivity while ensuring better returns and higher incomes for farmers.
"The government is consistently implementing a wide range of farmer‑centric initiatives to modernise agriculture, improve productivity, and strengthen rural livelihoods," he said.
Sharing his experience of working in the paddy fields with farmers, Nath said the fragrance of the soil, feet covered in mud, and the genuine smiles of farmers made the experience unforgettable. He described farmers as the true architects of food security and stressed that recognising their hard work and making agriculture more prosperous is a collective responsibility.
The Minister further said that the overall development and economic progress of the state are closely linked to the prosperity of its farmers and the growth of the agricultural sector.
"To make agriculture more profitable, sustainable, and technology‑driven, the government is continuously providing farmers with training, improved seed varieties, modern agricultural machinery, and various forms of financial and technical assistance," he said.
He added that the government remains committed to equipping farmers with the latest agricultural technologies and best practices so they can increase production, reduce cultivation costs, and improve their overall standard of living.
Farmers who participated in the programme appreciated the government's pro‑farmer initiatives and expressed hope that such field‑level interactions and plantation programmes would continue in the future, encouraging more cultivators to adopt advanced and scientific farming practices across the state.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see the government focusing on modern farming techniques. But I hope they also address the real issues like fair Minimum Support Price (MSP), proper irrigation facilities, and affordable loans for small farmers. Photo ops are nice, but policy changes matter more. 🌾
As someone from Tripura, this makes me proud! Our state has so much potential for organic farming and rice cultivation. Hope the government follows up with actual subsidies on modern equipment and better market access for our farmers. Jai Kisan! 💪
The minister's words about the "fragrance of the soil" really touched me. My grandfather was a farmer and he always said the same thing. But honestly, we need more than emotional connection - we need concrete action on climate-resilient seeds and better crop insurance schemes for times of natural disasters.
Respect to the minister for doing the groundwork! 👏 But let's also remember that Northeast farmers often struggle with connectivity to bigger markets. Modern farming techniques are great, but we also need better rural infrastructure and cold storage facilities so farmers actually profit from their hard work.
Good initiative! I just hope this isn't just a one-day media event. We need continuous engagement with farmers, not just during plantation season. The government should regularly hold such field visits and actually listen to what farmers need at the grassroots level. 🤞
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