Due to purchase of paddy from farmers at the subsidized price, the overall price of paddy has increased in the state of Tripura. In 2017-18, the average market price of paddy was Rs. 580 per maun. In 2022-23, the market price of paddy has increased to RS.816 per maun. Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Apurba Roy said this at a press conference on Wednesday at Agartala.

The Secretary of Agriculture said that the present state government has decided to purchase paddy from the farmers in the state for the first time since the Rabi season of 2018. So far in this programme, 1 lakh 75 thousand 796 MT of paddy was procured from 92,27,000  farmers at MSP. As a result, 335 crore 75 lakh rupees has been deposited in farmers account.

Secretary highlighted the special plan for the Rabi season of 2023-24 and said that in order to increase the productivity of paddy in the state, a target has been taken to bring 10,000 hectares of land under hybrid rice cultivation. In the implementation of this programme, farmers will be given assistance of 9 thousand rupees per hectare in paddy cultivation. Besides, an initiative has been taken for the cultivation of mustard on 410 hectares of land as an experiment. In this programme, farmers will be given financial assistance of 3 thousand rupees per hectare. In the Rabi season plan, initiatives have been taken to cultivate hybrid maize on 500 hectares of land and wheat on 100 hectares of land in the state. In this programme, farmers will be given financial assistance of Rs. 9000 per hectare. The Agriculture Secretary said that various programmes have been taken in the state on the occasion of International Millet Year. In this programme, farmers are encouraged to grow millet. A workshop will be organized on millet or Sri-Anna next December in the state.

Director of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department Dr. Phani Bhushan Jamatia highlighted various plans and said that 43 hectares of land have been brought under palm oil cultivation in the state so far under the National Edible Oil-Palm Oil Mission. 2,500 hectares of land have been brought under vegetable cultivation under the Integrated Horticulture Development Mission so far this year. The Director said that in the current fiscal year, initiatives have been taken to cultivate horticultural crops in urban areas. Under this programme, 5000 families in urban areas have been given saplings of Amrapali and high-quality coconut.

He said that a new integrated pack house will be set up at Nalkata in the Dhalai district with financial support from the North Eastern Council. It will cost 4 crore 98 lakh rupees. A Vegetable Excellence Centre has been set up at Birchandra Manu for the production of vegetable seedlings in improved methods. This centre will be inaugurated on October 19. 3 crore 16 lakh rupees have been spent on setting up this Vegetable Excellence Centre.