NABARD is set to support an integrated organic value chain in Tripura, promoting indigenous produce, organic certification, GI-tagged rice varieties, processing, branding and exports while strengthening market access and sustainable income opportunities for farmers and rural communities.
The state has taken an important step towards strengthening its organic agriculture and expanding international market opportunities for indigenous farm products with the organisation of a sensitization programme on the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) in Agartala.
The programme was jointly organised by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Department of Agriculture, Government of Tripura. Tanushri Bhattacharya, OIC, NABARD, Tripura Regional Office, participated as a Special Guest and delivered the inaugural address.
The programme was attended by Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath, APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev, IAS, Agriculture Secretary Apurba Roy and other senior officials and stakeholders. The programme brought together farmers, processors, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and other stakeholders to enhance awareness about organic certification, production standards and export opportunities under NPOP.
The discussions highlighted the need to develop stronger institutional support and market linkages so that organic farming can translate into higher and more sustainable incomes for rural producers.
A major highlight of the programme was the flag-off of Tripura’s first consignment of organic rice paddy for export to Austria and the Netherlands. The consignment included indigenous varieties such as Kalikhasa, Harinarayan, Biron (sticky) and Maimi Hangar (black).
Significantly, these varieties have received NABARD support for GI registration, underlining the institution’s efforts to promote and protect Tripura’s unique agricultural heritage. Following the programme, a meeting was held involving the APEDA Chairman, Agriculture Minister, Agriculture Secretary and NABARD. The meeting explored the possibility of developing an integrated organic value chain for spices and other indigenous produce with export potential through convergence among key institutions.
Under the proposed model, APEDA could provide processing infrastructure support through subsidies, while NABARD could facilitate value-chain development for organic products. The State Government could extend support relating to land, logistics and other essential infrastructure.
NABARD was requested to take the lead in assisting the State Government in designing the proposed project in coordination with APEDA. Such convergence could help Tripura move beyond primary production towards processing, branding, certification, value addition and export-oriented marketing.
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The initiative offers a promising pathway for positioning Tripura’s indigenous organic produce in domestic and international markets while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers, FPOs and rural communities. With coordinated institutional support, NABARD can play a pivotal role in transforming Tripura’s rich organic and indigenous agricultural resources into commercially viable value chains.
