Agartala, Feb 17: The state government is working for the welfare of women, youth, farmers, and the poor, following the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath. The minister made these remarks while inaugurating the state’s first FPO-2025 Fair at Purvasha premises this evening.
During the event, the minister emphasized that farmers are the backbone of the economy and should be encouraged to become self-reliant. He highlighted that Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are formed by farmers to collectively manage agricultural production, processing, marketing, and business activities. The primary goal of FPOs is to enhance farmers’ financial well-being, increase productivity, and ensure fair prices for their produce. The Central Government launched a project in 2020 to promote and develop FPOs.
Tripura currently has 58 FPOs operating in 58 blocks, with 10,434 farmers actively engaged in them. Minister Ratan Lal Nath pointed out that under the previous government, the average monthly income of farmers was approximately ₹6,580, which has now increased to ₹13,590 due to various state government schemes. He mentioned several initiatives that contributed to this growth, including PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement, subsidized seeds and fertilizers, farm equipment distribution, soil testing, crop insurance, and the establishment of Krishak Bandhu Kendras.
Referring to the Union Budget, the minister stressed the importance of making Tripura self-reliant and urged collective efforts to achieve this goal. He also extended his best wishes for the success of the three-day FPO fair.
Agartala Mayor and MLA Deepak Majumder, who was present at the event, stated that the government has been working towards making farmers self-reliant across the state through various central and state schemes. MP Rajib Bhattacharjee echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the Union Budget’s focus on agricultural development. He also mentioned Tripura’s participation in the Ashta Lakshmi Mahotsav in New Delhi, where 57 entrepreneurs from the state showcased their products.
The event was also attended by Agriculture Secretary Apurba Roy, event chairman and corporator Alok Bhattacharjee, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Director Phanibhushan Jamatia, Horticulture and Soil Conservation Director Deepak Kumar Das, and Agricultural Marketing Director Maniklal Debbarma.
