Tripura Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath presented key proposals at the National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2026 in New Delhi, seeking support for hybrid paddy cultivation, crop insurance reforms, organic farming expansion, oil palm development, and enhanced farmer welfare initiatives across the northeastern region.
Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath has urged the Central Government to provide stronger policy and financial support to farmers, placing a series of significant proposals before Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during the National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2026 held at the NASC Complex in Pusa, New Delhi.
Addressing the second day of the high-level conference, Nath emphasized the importance of paddy cultivation in Tripura’s agricultural economy, stating that nearly half of the state’s gross cropped area is dedicated to paddy farming. To strengthen food security and improve agricultural productivity, he announced that 50,000 hectares of land would be brought under hybrid paddy cultivation during 2025-26. The initiative has been backed by an allocation of Rs 10 crore in the state budget.
The minister requested the Centre to provide support under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) to accelerate the hybrid paddy expansion programme. According to Nath, increasing the adoption of high-yielding hybrid varieties will help enhance production and contribute significantly to the state’s food security objectives.
Highlighting Tripura’s achievements in organic agriculture, Nath informed the conference that 26,600 hectares of farmland have already been converted to organic cultivation under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER). He noted that approximately 26,800 farmers across the state have embraced organic farming practices, making Tripura one of the leading states in the northeastern region in this sector.
The minister urged the Centre to extend the MOVCD-NER scheme across all northeastern states, arguing that such expansion would greatly benefit small and marginal farmers who constitute nearly 96 percent of Tripura’s farming population.
Nath also raised concerns regarding the availability of agricultural inputs and requested uninterrupted urea supply from the Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL). Additionally, he sought increased financial assistance for chemical inputs required in oil palm cultivation and proposed that bio-fencing support for oil palm plantations be doubled from Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000.
A major focus of his address was crop insurance reform under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Nath called for flooding to be recognized as a local natural calamity under the scheme, enabling paddy growers in low-lying and flood-prone regions to receive insurance compensation for crop losses.
The minister further highlighted the success of the Apical Rooted Cuttings (ARC) technique in potato cultivation. He noted that the innovative method has significantly increased potato productivity and has nearly tripled yields in recent years. To sustain this progress, Nath requested the reintroduction of consultation fees under the Memorandum of Understanding with the International Potato Centre in Peru following the discontinuation of the RKVY-DPR scheme.
The two-day conference brought together agriculture ministers from 19 states and senior officials, including Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra, to discuss strategies for strengthening India’s agricultural sector ahead of the upcoming Kharif season. Deliberations focused on irrigation infrastructure, timely supply of agricultural inputs, technological advancement, and measures to improve farmers’ incomes.
Speaking on the occasion, Ratan Lal Nath reiterated Tripura’s commitment to working closely with the Government of India for the welfare and empowerment of farmers. He described the conference as an important platform for aligning state-level agricultural initiatives with national priorities and ensuring better outcomes for the farming community.
| Also Read: Uikey Praises SHG Success Stories in Rural Tripura |
Tripura’s proactive participation at the national forum reflected the state’s determination to strengthen its agricultural foundation, enhance productivity, expand sustainable farming practices, and secure the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in the years ahead.
