Agartala, December 4, 2025: Tripura’s Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ratan Lal Nath, on Thursday asserted that both the state and central governments remain steadfast in their commitment to improving the lives of farmers. He said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, cultivators are finally receiving the respect long denied to them in the past.
Speaking at a workshop on the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPV & FR Act, 2001) in Salema, Dhalai district, Nath emphasized that the legislation not only safeguards new plant varieties but also recognizes farmers’ traditional knowledge and rights. “The Act encourages innovation in crop varieties, protects farmers’ rights, and preserves agricultural diversity,” he noted.
The minister explained that the PPV & FR Authority functions as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Through this framework, crop varieties can be registered in the names of farmers, granting them full ownership rights. “Protecting innovative seeds, recognizing farmers’ role in conserving traditional varieties, ensuring access to quality seeds, and promoting research are the core objectives of this law,” Nath said.
Highlighting the shift in attitudes, he remarked: “Earlier, no one cared to give farmers a place on the stage. Today, under Prime Minister Modi, their dignity has increased.” He added that many farmers possess knowledge surpassing scientists, echoing Modi’s call for researchers to move from laboratories to fields and stand beside cultivators. “Farmers are our true providers, they are like gods,” Nath declared.
The minister underscored Modi’s directive that all possible support must be extended for farmers’ development. He cited figures showing India’s population at 1.45 billion, including 200 million farmers, while Tripura’s population stands at 4.22 lakh with 4.72 lakh farmers. “They are the ones who feed us. Agriculture is the driving wheel of Tripura’s economy, and since our government came to power, per capita income has risen,” he said.
On the occasion, Nath distributed plant variety registration certificates to four farmers: Ratan Das for his Chalkumra Local variety of pumpkin, Chinta Rani Debbarma for her Huntok variety of brinjal, Pramod Lal Das for his improved Mogai Seen variety, and Dayamati Debbarma for her Dana Maisinga variety.
The minister also planted ARC potatoes in the field of farmer Prabir Das at Salema and inspected maize cultivation at West Laljhari village in Kulai.
The event was attended by MLA Swapna Das Pal, MLA Chittaranjan Debbarma, MLA Shambu Lal Chakma, among others.
