The Union Minister for Industry and Commerce Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said that Agarwood sector in the state of Tripura has the capacity to go beyond the doubling of farmers’ income in the state.
Goyal was virtually addressing the first ever two-day long buyer and seller meet on the Agarwood products of Tripura started from Tuesday. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had chaired the meet and held series of discussion with the buyers and sellers to find out the feasibility of growing Agarwood sector in Tripura.
Goyal said, “Once the Union Ministry is accessed to the status of Agarwoods in Tripura, this can go long way towards grabbing the international market. As the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dreamt of doubling farmers’ income, I believe this agarwood sector of Tripura can not only double the farmers’ income but it can go beyond.”
“This agarwood sector in fact can lead the state of Tripura grow the state’s economy as this has a huge market at international level too,” Goyal said.
Meanwhile, Goyal on Tuesday said that imposition of import restrictions on agarbatti has helped in promoting domestic manufacturing of these incense sticks at large scale. He said, “Both the agarwood and agarbatti manufacturing can also generate employment opportunities in Tripura at large.”
He also said a scheme was formulated for increasing rubber plantation with the help of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA). Goyal said, “With this scheme, Tripura can get access to the ATMA and also link the MGNREGA scheme with this so as to grow the rubber plantation in the state. To work with the rubber sector of the state the Centre is planning to use modernized technology in Tripura so that high quality rubber is produced.”