AIKS Opposes Government’s Push for Palm Cultivation, Calls for Strengthening Rubber Sector in Tripura
At a time when the state government is considering promoting palm oil cultivation as a means to enhance farmers’ livelihoods, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), Tripura state committee, has raised strong objections to the move. The farmers’ organization has instead urged the government to focus on expanding rubber plantations, which they claim are more suited to Tripura’s agro-climatic conditions and offer better economic returns for cultivators.
Addressing a press conference in Agartala on Thursday, AIKS state secretary and former Left Front minister Pabitra Kar said, “Palm cultivation is not viable in Tripura. It is neither ecologically sustainable nor economically beneficial for our farmers. Our earlier feasibility studies during the Left Front regime clearly concluded that palm oil farming is not profitable here and, in fact, leads to degradation of fertile agricultural land.”
Kar stressed that instead of diverting resources and attention toward palm oil cultivation, the government should invest in enhancing rubber production—a crop that has historically proven beneficial for small and marginal farmers in the state. “Tripura has already seen success in rubber plantations. The infrastructure exists, and farmers have the experience. Why is the government pushing an agenda that is bound to fail?” he questioned.
The AIKS state committee met earlier in the day to discuss the deteriorating condition of agriculture in Tripura and the numerous challenges faced by farmers, including poor irrigation facilities, delayed procurement, price volatility, and lack of government support.
Kar also came down heavily on the state government for what he described as empty rhetoric regarding the Centre’s claim to double farmers’ income. “These are hollow promises. The ground reality is that our farmers are still struggling to make ends meet. The support systems are broken, infrastructure is poor, and there is no sincere attempt from the government to address the real issues,” he said.
As part of its strategy to put pressure on the government, AIKS announced a month-long statewide protest campaign throughout August. The campaign will include submitting deputations to district magistrates and sub-divisional officers, and staging demonstrations at key administrative offices across the state.
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“We are starting with a 10-point charter of demands which will be submitted to the Chief Secretary. If the government fails to respond, we will escalate our agitation with larger mass mobilizations,” Kar warned.
Among the key demands highlighted by the AIKS are:
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Strengthening the rubber industry with better market support and subsidies
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Establishing a minimum support price (MSP) for key crops
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Expansion of irrigation and cold storage facilities
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Compensation for crop losses due to natural disasters
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Immediate resolution of pending land compensation cases
Kar reiterated AIKS’s commitment to building grassroots momentum and said the organization would continue to be the voice of the voiceless farmers. “We are not against agricultural development,” he clarified, “but it must be grounded in scientific studies, local suitability, and genuine benefit for the farming community—not based on corporate interests or externally driven models.”
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The AIKS also criticized what they see as the government’s increasing indifference to farmers’ distress and warned that the coming months will see intensified struggles unless policy changes are made in consultation with farmers’ representatives.
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