Tripura Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma inspected sericulture activities in Sepahijala and proposed raising the mulberry procurement price from Rs 350 to Rs 500 per kg to boost farmer income, employment and sustainable livelihoods.
Tripura Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma on Tuesday inspected development activities and sericulture projects in tribal and minority-dominated areas of Kathalia block in Sepahijala district, stressing the need to strengthen mulberry cultivation and improve income opportunities for farmers.
During his visit, Debbarma inspected mulberry plantations established under government-supported sericulture initiatives at Chikon Tuisa, Latia Chhara and Kalikhola areas. He also visited pucca houses constructed under government schemes for beneficiaries and interacted with local residents to understand their problems, demands and expectations.
A key focus of the minister’s visit was the existing mulberry cultivation programme in the Kathalia area. After inspecting a mulberry plantation, Debbarma proposed increasing the procurement price of mulberry from the existing Rs 350 per kg to Rs 500 per kg. The proposed hike is aimed at making sericulture more financially attractive and encouraging farmers to remain involved in mulberry cultivation.
Debbarma initially visited the office of the Sonamura Sub-Divisional Magistrate, where he held discussions with officials on various administrative matters. He subsequently proceeded to the Kathalia Block Panchayat Samiti office and reviewed the progress of development works planned for the 2026-27 financial year.
The minister later visited the mulberry plantation of Bhuvan Kanya Tripura, a resident of Kalikhola ADC Village under the Kathalia Block Panchayat Samiti. The plantation has been identified by the Sericulture Department for promoting mulberry cultivation and supporting sericulture activities in the area.
Following the inspection, Debbarma held preliminary discussions with officials of the Sericulture Department and emphasised the importance of improving the economic returns from mulberry cultivation. The proposed increase in the procurement price, if implemented, could provide additional financial support to growers facing rising cultivation and maintenance costs.
A mulberry cultivation cluster was established in the Kathalia Block Panchayat Samiti area during the Left Front government, with around 100 farmers initially associated with the initiative. However, many of the earlier cultivators have subsequently discontinued mulberry cultivation, citing low returns and increasing production expenses.
Authorities are now planning to bring around 50 new farmers into mulberry cultivation. According to officials, 10 prospective farmers are from Kalapania village. The earlier cluster included cultivators from Kalikrishnanagar, Uttar Maheshpur, Nirbhaypur, Kalikhola and Monaipathar villages, including areas under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.
Officials also informed the minister that the expansion of rubber cultivation has influenced several former mulberry growers to shift towards rubber plantations. Even a portion of Bhuvan Kanya Tripura’s mulberry plantation has been converted for planting rubber saplings.
Considering Bhuvan Kanya Tripura’s financial condition and the need to encourage her to continue with sericulture, the Sericulture Department provided her with a government-supported house. Two other beneficiaries have also reportedly received houses under similar initiatives, although their names were not immediately available.
During the field visit, Debbarma also interacted with beneficiaries and local residents and took note of their concerns. He discussed the implementation of government housing schemes with concerned officials and reviewed the condition of mulberry plantations.
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The minister’s visit highlighted the government’s efforts to promote sericulture as a source of employment and supplementary income in tribal and minority-dominated areas. The proposed increase in mulberry procurement prices is expected to form part of efforts to revive cultivation, attract new farmers and improve the sustainability of sericulture activities in Sepahijala district.
