Tripura Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath seeks additional central funds from Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for hybrid paddy cultivation, mechanization, and farmer welfare projects, highlighting strong financial discipline and 79 percent expenditure under key central agricultural schemes.
Tripura’s Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Tuesday sought additional financial allocation from the Centre during a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The virtual financial review meeting assessed the progress of centrally sponsored agricultural schemes for the current financial year. The session was attended by representatives from 18 states, including Tripura, and focused on fund utilization, implementation efficiency, and future planning.
Demand for Additional Funds to Support Farmers
During the meeting, Ratan Lal Nath emphasized the urgent need for enhanced central assistance to benefit farmers across the state. He stated that the Tripura government intends to fully utilize the allocated funds within the current financial year and has requested additional expenditure allocation to accelerate farmer-centric projects.
“Our state is among the top five in the country in terms of expenditure under central agricultural schemes,” Nath asserted, underlining Tripura’s financial discipline and effective fund utilization.
The Union Agriculture Minister reportedly expressed satisfaction with the state’s expenditure performance and assured that the demands raised would be addressed at the earliest.
Push for 30,000 Hectares of Hybrid Paddy Cultivation
A key proposal placed before the Centre was the facilitation of hybrid paddy cultivation across 30,000 hectares under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana Detailed Project Report (RKVY-DPR) for the financial year 2026-27.
Paddy accounts for nearly 50 percent of the total cultivated land in Tripura, making it the backbone of the state’s agricultural economy. Given that 96 percent of farmers in the state belong to the small and marginal category, enhanced investment in paddy cultivation is directly linked to food security and rural income stability.
The minister further urged the Centre to increase cost allocation norms under major schemes, including RKVY, the National Food Security Mission, and the National Mission on Oil Palm, to reflect the rising input costs and local challenges faced by farmers.
Strong Financial Performance Under Key Schemes
Highlighting Tripura’s performance under various umbrella schemes, Nath informed the meeting that:
79 percent of allocated funds under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana have already been utilized.
61 percent expenditure has been recorded under the Krishi Utpada Yojana Umbrella Scheme.
61 percent of funds have also been spent on Natural Farming initiatives.
The Union Minister reportedly acknowledged Tripura’s financial discipline and efficient utilization pattern, describing it as commendable compared to national averages.
Mechanization and Rs 20 Crore Proposal Under SMAM
Mechanization emerged as another major focus area during the review. Nath informed that the state government is prioritizing agricultural mechanization to improve productivity and reduce labor-intensive practices.
To strengthen this effort, he demanded an additional Rs 20 crore under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM). Enhanced mechanization is expected to help small and marginal farmers reduce costs, improve yields, and increase overall agricultural efficiency.
Officials believe that greater mechanization will also address labor shortages and promote modern farming techniques in rural areas.
Farm ID Initiative for Tribal Farmers
The minister also highlighted the ongoing process of issuing Farm IDs in the state. Tripura has more than 1,25,000 tribal farmers who are beneficiaries under the Recognition of Forest Rights (RoFR) Act.
Nath requested necessary facilitation from the Centre to ensure that these farmers receive Farm ID cards without delay. The identity system is expected to streamline subsidy distribution, improve beneficiary tracking, and enhance transparency in scheme implementation.
Commitment to Food Security and Farmer Welfare
Given that a majority of Tripura’s farming community consists of smallholders, the minister stressed the importance of strengthening the National Food Security Mission and related programs to ensure sustainable agricultural growth.
He reiterated that the state government remains firmly committed to protecting farmers’ interests, enhancing productivity, and ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reportedly accepted the validity of Tripura’s demands and assured that necessary approvals and financial sanctions would be processed promptly.
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The review meeting was also attended by senior officials, including Agriculture Department Secretary Apurba Roy and Director Dr. Phanibhushan Jamatia, among other high-ranking officers.
With Tripura positioning itself among the top-performing states in agricultural expenditure, the outcome of this meeting could significantly impact the next phase of farmer welfare initiatives and agricultural modernization in the state.
