Rabi onion as a cash crop to boost rural income
Agartala, Dec 05: Tripura is moving towards a new agricultural step with the introduction of Rabi onion as a cash crop. The government believes this will help farmers earn more and improve the rural economy. The crop is also expected to reduce the state’s dependence on onion imports.
Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath launched the project-cum-workshop on Rabi onion at the College of Agriculture in Agartala.
The Minister said the main goal of the government is to become self-sufficient in major crops. He added that agriculture is the backbone of Tripura’s economy and that the new onion project will help farmers grow with better income opportunities.
The workshop was conducted under the project is titled Rabi Onion: A Promising Cash Crop for Economic Upliftment and Livelihood Improvement of Rural Tripura.
It is being carried out jointly by the College of Agriculture, Tripura, and NABARD. Twelve varieties of Rabi onion have already been tested successfully in experimental plots. Now, the government plans to increase production in more areas, Nath said.
Officials said the project will help identify the best onion varieties and the right method of cultivation.
Farmers will receive guidance on how to grow onions in different seasons. If more farmers adopt the crop, onion availability in local markets will increase. This will also help reduce price hikes and shortages during peak demand.
The Minister said potato, tomato and onion are three major food items in daily use. He also stated that Tripura has already improved potato production using new methods.
Now, the focus is on vegetables and onions to make the state more self-reliant.
The event was attended by Dr. Fani Bhushan Jamatia, Director of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Deepak Das, Director of Horticulture and Soil Conservation; NABARD General Manager Anil Kotmire; ICAR-IMC member Pradeep Baran Roy; MODCDNER Mission Director Rajib Debbarma; and several representatives from different institutions.
Experts believe that proper farming techniques can increase onion production across the state. This may reduce the need to buy onions from outside and help maintain stable market prices.
