Tripura, 31 July 2025: Tripura’s Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath today reiterated the state government’s commitment to doubling farmers’ income and uplifting their socio-economic condition. Speaking at the launch of hybrid paddy cultivation using the SRI (System of Rice Intensification) method at Nandalal Das Para under Ishaanpur Panchayat in Mohanpur block, the Minister said that farmers are the backbone of the nation and their progress is key to the progress of the state and the country.
He highlighted that ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, the central government has taken numerous steps to improve the lives of farmers. “India now ranks second globally in rice production and first in rice exports,” he noted.
Citing data on paddy cultivation in Tripura, the Minister informed that paddy is cultivated across 15 lakh kani of land annually in the state. Among this:
87,000 kani is used for aus paddy, 9.18 lakh kani for aman paddy, and 3.94 lakh kani for boro paddy. Additionally, 85,000 kani of land is used for jhum (shifting) cultivation.
Currently, 30 out of the 58 blocks and 3 out of 8 districts in the state are self-sufficient in food production, he added.
Minister Nath emphasized the potential of SRI technique in increasing productivity, stating that farmers can produce 80 kg more paddy per kani using this method. He urged farmers to adopt the SRI system to enhance output and profitability.
The plantation drive saw active participation from the Minister himself, along with Mohanpur Panchayat Samiti Chairman Rakesh Deb, Vice Chairman Sanjeeb Kumar Das, Mohanpur Municipal Council Vice Chairperson Shankar Deb, and Director of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Dr. Phanibhusan Jamatia, among others.
