Agartala, June 13, 2025: To make Tripura self-reliant in paddy production, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Friday announced an ambitious plan to increase productivity by 500 kilograms per hectare during the upcoming Kharif season.

The state currently faces a shortfall of 1.04 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy to meet the demand of its 42.22 lakh population. Of the 58 administrative blocks in the state, only 30 are self-sufficient in paddy production. Tripura has 30 lakh kani (approximately 12.15 lakh hectares) of cultivable land, out of which only 15 lakh kani (around 6.08 lakh hectares) is used for paddy cultivation.

“If we meet our per-hectare productivity target, Tripura can produce an additional 1 lakh MT of paddy this season, bridging the existing deficit and making the state self-sufficient,” said Nath, speaking at a press conference at Nagicherra government farm.

The minister highlighted the overwhelming response to the recently concluded Viksit Krishi Sankalp Yatra, a 14-day outreach initiative aimed at connecting with farmers across the state. “Our original target was to reach 1.32 lakh farmers, but we surpassed expectations and connected with 1.95 lakh cultivators, including 66,809 women,” he stated. A total of 873 meetings were held with farmers, MLAs, ministers, and scientists as part of the campaign.

Nath also announced the launch of a “Yellow Revolution” in Tripura to boost honey production through expanded beekeeping. “Honey not only enhances immunity but is also used widely in medicines. We aim to integrate honey and edible oil production, including palm oil, into our composite farming model,” he added.

In recognition of successful agricultural entrepreneurship, ten individuals were awarded Rs 10,000 each. Awardees included Sanjib Das from Unakoti, who earns over Rs 1 crore annually through fish farming, and MSc graduate Sukhamay Debnath, who cultivates lotus flowers in Agartala’s Dukli area. Others honored included MBA-holding farmer Bijay Gope and Susmita Tripura, a tribal woman graduate from Kanchanpur, who has found success in agriculture.

The minister also stressed the need for increased awareness of existing central and state schemes like the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi and Fasal Bima Yojana. “We have the resources and subsidies in place, but many farmers remain unaware. A state-level awareness campaign will be launched to ensure these benefits reach every cultivator,” Nath concluded.