Tripura unlikely to face drought as rainfall crosses 1,000 mm: Agriculture Minister
Agartala, June 23
Tripura's Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department is fully prepared to tackle any drought-like situation, although the state is unlikely to face such a scenario as it has already received more than 1,000 mm of rainfall this season, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath said on Tuesday.
The Minister made the statement after participating in a video conference chaired by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. With the possibility of El Niño and a weak or uncertain monsoon this year, the Central government has intensified preparedness for the Kharif season.
Union Minister Chouhan chaired a high-level virtual meeting with Agriculture Ministers of states, senior officials, District Collectors, experts from ICAR, ICAR-CRIDA, and the India Meteorological Department to review the situation across the country.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Nath said agriculture ministers, secretaries, and senior officials from across the country reviewed preparedness for possible weather-related challenges during the ongoing agricultural season.
"Our Union Agriculture Minister is very active and proactive. Although India has achieved self-reliance in the production of food grains such as paddy and wheat, as well as fish and several other agricultural commodities, certain parts of the country may face drought-like conditions due to the impact of El Niño. Keeping this in mind, he has taken advance measures and alerted all state agriculture ministers. That is why today's review meeting was convened," Nath said.
He added that the possibility of drought in Tripura remains minimal. According to forecasts and assessments by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the southwest monsoon is expected to remain above normal across the Northeastern region, including Tripura.
"In our state, more than 1,000 mm of rainfall has already been recorded. Therefore, there is virtually no possibility of a drought situation in Tripura. However, we are fully prepared to address any unforeseen circumstances if they arise," Nath said.
The Minister further stated that the Agriculture Department has been directed to take precautionary measures to ensure higher productivity of Kharif crops. These include the timely supply of high-quality seeds, chemical fertilisers, and agricultural equipment, such as sprayers, to farmers across the state.
"To enhance agricultural production, Kharif crops such as paddy, oil seeds, and pulses should be cultivated in clusters so that community-based planting and sowing can be encouraged. Such an approach will help improve productivity and facilitate better management of agricultural activities," Nath said.
He added that irrigation facilities are being readied to provide life-saving irrigation support whenever required and that the state government has put in place contingency measures to safeguard agricultural production.
"Our government is fully prepared to tackle any kind of adverse situation and ensure that farmers do not face difficulties during the cropping season," Nath added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
"No possibility of drought" - famous last words in Indian agriculture! 😅 But seriously, having 1000mm already is a good start. The real test will be if there's a dry spell in August-September when paddy needs water most. Hope the irrigation backup plans are actually operational.
Cluster farming is a smart move for Tripura's small landholdings. Community planting can reduce costs and improve market access. But the government should also focus on ensuring fair MSP and proper procurement - that's what really matters to farmers. Yaar, we've seen enough empty promises.
Interesting to see India's agricultural preparedness from a global perspective. The video conference approach seems efficient for coordination across states. Tripura's rainfall data looks promising. I wonder how the El Niño prediction compares with actual monsoon performance in other NE states.
Have they actually checked the ground reality? Our village in west Tripura hasn't seen proper rain in two weeks. The 1000mm figure might be from automated stations but farmer lands tell a different story. Good rains in June don't guarantee a good kharif season. Need district-wise monitoring please 🙏
Self-reliance in food grain production is a big achievement, no doubt. But we need to diversify into pulses and oilseeds as mentioned. Tripura's climate is ideal for pineapples and rubber too - why not promote those alongside paddy? Let's not put all eggs in one basket.
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