CM Manik Saha Stresses on Marketing Policy for Agri-Horti Growth in Northeast
Tripura, 07 April 2025: To accelerate the development of agriculture and horticulture in Tripura and other northeastern states, a comprehensive marketing policy is essential for effective distribution of agri-produce, stated Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha. He shared this perspective during the first meeting of the high-level task force constituted by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) held today via video conference at the State Secretariat.
The meeting, chaired by Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, focused on three major areas: agriculture and horticulture development, investment promotion, and tourism industry growth across the eight northeastern states. As the convenor of the high-level task force on investment promotion, CM Manik Saha emphasized the need for a strategic roadmap for industrial growth in the region.
He suggested establishing industries in sectors such as mineral oil, gas, coal mining, urea fertilizer, bamboo-based products, rubber-based industries, edible oil production, tea processing, medicinal plant cultivation, IT and startups, real estate, healthcare, and tourism.
He also highlighted the potential of setting up a modern rice mill for processing the aromatic Kali Khasa rice grown in Tripura, along with promoting organic farming, building infrastructure for agri-product storage, applying scientific techniques in banana processing, and installing rice husk processing units. The Chief Minister stressed the need for creating a North East Tourist Circuit to boost tourism revenue and promote tourist destinations within the region.
He called for enhanced air connectivity, increased tourism investment, trained guides, assured tourist safety, and cultural promotion in each state. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia advised all states to adopt digital mapping technology to increase agricultural productivity, focus on value addition of agri-produce, and develop PPP models for marketing and preservation.
He encouraged states to prioritize unique regional products and emphasized the importance of international trade and timely execution of MoUs and projects. Scindia also highlighted the potential of the region as a key tourism destination and urged states to study the successful tourism strategies of Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia, and explore the possibility of implementing similar models.
He proposed the creation of one tourism circuit site in each northeastern state to provide integrated tourism services. The meeting also saw participation from Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Gabriel D. Wangsu, and Chief Ministers of Nagaland (Neiphiu Rio), Meghalaya (Conrad Sangma), and Sikkim (Prem Singh Tamang).
Prem Singh Tamang, who serves as the convenor of the task force on agriculture and horticulture, called for development of agri-infrastructure, easy access to bank loans for farmers, creation of a market chain, and formulation of a separate agricultural policy for the northeastern region.
From Tripura, Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Secretary of Industries and Commerce Kiran Gitte, and Agriculture Secretary Apurba Roy were also present in the meeting.
