November 10, 2017: The first of its kind in the North Eastern Region and 19th in the nation – an Excellence Centre for Horti-products was inaugurated today at Jumerdhepa in Sepahijala district in Tripura.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the Excellence Centre for Vegetable growers The Centre will extend technological assistance for augmenting production with the help of National Horticulture Mission.
The Centre was set up with an expenditure of Rs 6 crore 25 lakh and will produce total 50 lakhs saplings of high quality in a year. The centre will produce 30-32 varieties of vegetable and fruit saplings and these will be distributed to the farmers. Apart from local farmers, The Centre will cater needs of Gomati and South District. The centre will be immensely beneficial for the vegetable growers, local sources said.
Inaugurating the Excellence Centre, Manik Sarkar said, Tripura is the only State where farmers are getting subsidies on fertilizers and agricultural instruments. He said, around 50 per cent agri-fields have been brought under irrigation facilities and at least 65 per cent land would be covered under irrigation in next five years.
Referring to other States, Sarkar said, Tripura is the only State where farmers need not to pay a tax for availing irrigation facility. Moreover, the State has attained self-sufficiency in producing 4-5 varieties of seeds.
“Farmers in Tripura are living in better conditions in comparison with prevailing situation in rest of the country. In other States, farmers are not getting fair prices for their produces and committing suicide. However, the Central Government is not looking at the problems of the farmers”, he alleged and added, farmers from several parts of the country have assembled at New Delhi and are holding a three-day agitation near Parliament to vent their anger”, he commented.
He blamed the successive Central Government for failure to design a comprehensive pro-farmer agricultural policy during 70 years after Independence.
Today, Manik Sarkar also inaugurated a Primary Health Centre, shopping complex, a newly constructed school building and Aachhad Ali market shed at Urmai in the same sub-division.
