Tripura CM Dr. Manik Saha said the state has doubled farmers’ average monthly income from Rs 6,000 to over Rs 13,000 through agricultural reforms, while launching the Khet Bachao Abhiyan to promote sustainable farming, protect cultivable land, and improve soil health.
Reaffirming the state’s commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector while promoting sustainable farming practices, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Friday announced that the government has successfully doubled the average monthly income of farmers from around Rs 6,000 in the 2015-16 baseline year to more than Rs 13,000. He made the announcement while inaugurating a one-day workshop under the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan at Bamutia Berimura School premises in West Tripura district.
Addressing farmers, agricultural experts and officials, the Chief Minister said the remarkable rise in farmers’ income is the result of sustained policy interventions, scientific agricultural reforms and continuous government support aimed at improving productivity, protecting cultivable land and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Dr. Saha stated that agriculture remains the backbone of India’s economy and rural livelihoods. He noted that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, agriculture has received unprecedented attention through farmer-centric schemes, technological innovations and scientific interventions designed to increase productivity and improve the financial condition of cultivators.
The Chief Minister said that if the 2015-16 baseline year is considered, the average monthly income of farmers in Tripura stood at approximately Rs 6,000. Today, it has crossed Rs 13,000, fulfilling the government’s commitment to doubling farmers’ income through dedicated efforts and agricultural reforms.
Speaking about the growing concern over the conversion of agricultural land for non-farming purposes, Dr. Saha asserted that the state government remains firmly committed to protecting cultivable land. He clarified that while industrial development and ease of doing business are important for economic growth, fertile agricultural land should not be diverted indiscriminately.
According to the Chief Minister, industrial projects should preferably be established on unused land available within designated industrial zones rather than on productive farmland. Every proposal involving land-use conversion, he said, will continue to remain under government scrutiny to ensure that the interests of farmers and the agriculture sector are fully safeguarded.
Dr. Saha highlighted that the Khet Bachao Abhiyan has been launched by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The nationwide campaign seeks to protect soil health, conserve cultivable land and encourage environmentally sustainable farming practices across the country.
He said the campaign reflects the Central Government’s growing concern over declining soil fertility caused by decades of excessive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers. According to him, maintaining healthy soil is essential for ensuring food security, ecological balance and sustainable agricultural production for future generations.
During his address, Dr. Saha warned that excessive application of chemical fertilisers such as urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) has gradually reduced soil organic matter, thereby affecting long-term agricultural productivity. He urged farmers to adopt balanced nutrient management, scientific farming techniques and eco-friendly agricultural practices to preserve soil fertility while improving crop yields.
The Chief Minister also emphasised that modern agriculture should not focus solely on increasing economic returns through chemical-dependent farming. Instead, he said, farming today carries greater responsibility and accountability towards protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable development for future generations.
Sharing his views on social media after attending the programme, Dr. Saha said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s agriculture sector and the country’s agriculture-based economy are progressing with renewed momentum. He stated that modern farming is no longer driven only by economic gains but also by the responsibility to preserve natural resources for the future.
He further said that with this objective, the Government of India has launched the Khet Bachao Abhiyan to encourage bio-based and sustainable agricultural practices. Participating in the inaugural session of the one-day workshop at Bamutia Berimura School, the Chief Minister encouraged farmers to actively adopt environmentally friendly cultivation methods that protect both soil health and long-term agricultural productivity.
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Dr. Saha reiterated that nearly 60 per cent of India’s workforce remains directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture. Therefore, protecting agricultural land, improving farmers’ incomes and promoting sustainable farming practices are essential not only for economic growth but also for ensuring national food security.
The Chief Minister concluded by urging farmers, agricultural scientists and government agencies to work collectively towards preserving fertile land, reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers and embracing scientific, balanced and eco-friendly farming methods. He expressed confidence that initiatives like the Khet Bachao Abhiyan would strengthen India’s agricultural sector while securing a sustainable future for generations to come.
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