Agartala, November 06, 2025: In a major push to revolutionize potato production in Tripura, the state government will provide financial and material support to 6,000 farmers adopting the ARC (Apical Rooted Cutting) method of cultivation, Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters at the state secretariat in Agartala city, Nath said each selected farmer will receive ₹2,000 directly in their bank account along with agricultural inputs worth ₹1,000. The total government expenditure for this initiative is estimated at ₹1.8 crore.
Currently, around 23,700 farmers cultivate potatoes across 47,341 kani (a local unit of land) in the state. Under traditional methods, yields average between 2,500 to 3,000 kg per kani. However, the ARC technique has significantly boosted productivity, with yields reaching 9,000 to 10,000 kg per kani, the minister noted.
Nath outlined the government’s long-term vision, stating that Tripura aims to become self-sufficient in seed potato production by 2028–29 and fully self-reliant in table potato production by 2029–30.
The ARC method was first introduced in 2023 on a pilot basis with 100 farmers. Encouraged by promising results, the number was increased to 400 in 2024. This year, the initiative will expand further under two schemes: 4,000 farmers will be supported through the Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana (RKBY), and another 2,000 through the Watershed Management Project.
“This initiative will open a new chapter in Tripura’s agricultural sector and pave the way for self-reliance in potato production,” Nath said.
