Tripura’s government is doubling down on farmer empowerment, with Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath requesting extra central funds for key projects during Tuesday’s virtual review meeting presided over by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Central to the discussion was scaling hybrid paddy cultivation to over 30,000 hectares via RKVY-DPR by 2026-27, vital since paddy claims 50% of the state’s farmland and underpins food security.
Chouhan’s oversight of 18 states included praise for Tripura’s spending discipline. Minister Nath detailed fund usage: 79% disbursed under PM-RKVY, 61% for agriculture production, and 61% in natural farming. Ranking in India’s top five for expenditure, the state vows full utilization this year and more resources for welfare initiatives.
Focus areas included Rs 20 crore for SMAM mechanization, Farm ID issuance for 1.25 lakh tribal farmers on ROFR lands, and cost norm hikes in RKVY, NFSM, and oil palm schemes—essential for the 96% small and marginal farmers reliant on paddy. Chouhan greenlit the proposals, committing to expedite releases.
Senior officials like Secretary Apurva Roy and Director Phanibhushan Jamatia participated. This collaborative effort promises to modernize Tripura’s agriculture, enhancing productivity and livelihoods through hybrid innovations and robust support systems.