Tripura plans to develop 58 more agricultural markets in 2026-27, Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced while inaugurating a Rs 4.51 crore two-storey rural market at Gajaria in South Tripura, aiming to strengthen infrastructure, facilitate agricultural trade and improve farmers’ incomes.
Tripura plans to develop 58 additional agricultural markets during the 2026-27 financial year to strengthen rural market infrastructure, facilitate agricultural trade and improve farmers’ incomes, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath said.
The minister announced the initiative while inaugurating a newly constructed two-storey rural market at Gajaria in South Tripura district. The market has been built at a cost of Rs 4.51 crore and has been opened for farmers and traders.
Nath said the development of agricultural infrastructure remains a key priority for the state government, as a significant section of Tripura’s population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihoods. He expressed hope that the newly inaugurated market would provide improved facilities for the sale and purchase of agricultural produce, benefiting both farmers and businesspeople.
“About 70 per cent of the people in our state depend directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihoods. Therefore, achieving self-reliance in agriculture means taking the state forward on the path of self-reliance. Development of agricultural infrastructure is essential to achieve this goal,” the minister said.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of establishing India as a global grain storage hub, Nath said the state government was working to strengthen agricultural infrastructure, increase farmers’ earnings and promote self-sufficiency in foodgrain production.
He also emphasised that agriculture remains a major pillar of the Indian economy and that the country’s overall development cannot be complete without progress in the agricultural sector.
According to the minister, Tripura has a total of 554 agricultural markets, including 84 primary wholesale markets, of which 21 are agricultural produce markets, and 470 primary or rural markets. These markets play an important role in connecting farmers with traders and facilitating the movement of agricultural products from rural areas to consumers.
The state government has undertaken infrastructure development projects in 204 agricultural markets since the 2018-19 financial year, with a total allocation of Rs 461.83 crore, Nath said. Of these projects, 87 have been completed, while construction and development work in the remaining 117 markets is currently underway.
The government plans to take up development projects for another 58 agricultural markets in the 2026-27 financial year. The initiative is expected to further expand market infrastructure and improve facilities available to farmers and traders across the state.
Nath said the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department implements development schemes based on specific proposals for primary rural markets and regulated agricultural markets. The projects are intended to address infrastructure requirements and make agricultural trading more convenient and efficient.
Comparing the current government’s investment with the previous government’s tenure, the minister said 71 agricultural market infrastructure development projects were undertaken between 2013 and 2017, with an allocation of Rs 20.27 crore.
The newly inaugurated Gajaria rural market is expected to provide better facilities for agricultural transactions and create a more organised environment for farmers and traders. Improved infrastructure can help facilitate the handling and marketing of agricultural produce while supporting rural economic activities.
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The state government’s continued investment in agricultural markets reflects its broader effort to strengthen the rural economy, improve market access and support farmers’ livelihoods. With 58 additional markets planned for development in 2026-27, Tripura aims to expand infrastructure and create better opportunities for agricultural producers and traders across the state.
