Agartala, October 16: Emphasising the importance of determination, innovation and modern farming practices, Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Friday said that much could be achieved if farmers worked with a strong will and embraced new opportunities in agriculture.
The Minister was speaking at the inauguration of an Agricultural Development Research and Training Centre equipped with information technology facilities, along with an Agricultural Supervisor (SA) office, in the Jubarajnagar agricultural subdivision of North Tripura district. The facilities have been established under the initiative of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Tripura, to strengthen agricultural services and improve farmers’ access to scientific knowledge and modern techniques.
Addressing the gathering, Nath described farmers as the true gods, highlighting their indispensable role in sustaining human life. “The deities in temples may not be visible to us, but farmers are visible, and they provide the food that sustains us,” he said, underlining the need to respect and support the farming community.
The Minister said the state government regularly introduces various schemes and initiatives for farmers’ welfare and urged them to take full advantage of the available opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
Citing an example from the Jubarajnagar agricultural subdivision, Nath referred to a woman farmer who reportedly earned a profit of nearly Rs 1.5 lakh by cultivating crops on flat land during the off-season. He said the example demonstrated how determination, proper planning and the adoption of suitable farming practices could help farmers increase their income.
Encouraging farmers to explore off-season cultivation, he stressed the potential of producing fruits and vegetables beyond their usual growing periods to achieve better returns. He called upon more farmers to come forward and adopt such practices to enhance agricultural productivity and profitability.
The inauguration ceremony began with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and the lighting of a ceremonial lamp. The Minister and other dignitaries subsequently planted cocoa saplings on the premises. Women farmers from the locality were also felicitated by Nath in recognition of their contribution to agriculture.
Among those present were Aparna Nath, Sabhadhipati of the North Tripura Zilla Parishad; former MLA and social worker Malina Nath; MLAs Jahar Bhattacharjee and Yadav Lal Nath; Block Panchayat Samiti Chairperson Aparna Sinha Nath; Dr Phanibhushan Jamatia, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare; Dr Rajeev Ghosh, State Consultant and Advisor for the National Mission on Edible Oils; the department’s Chief Engineer; and Bijan Kanti Sharma, Agricultural Supervisor of the Jubarajnagar subdivision, along with other officials.
The newly inaugurated centre is expected to strengthen agricultural research, training and information services in the subdivision. By facilitating access to modern technology, scientific cultivation methods and technical guidance, the facility is expected to help local farmers improve crop production, adopt advanced farming practices and explore new avenues for income generation.