Tripura is witnessing a surge in the cultivation of aromatic rice, pineapple, pepper, turmeric, and green chilli through organic methods. The state has embraced organic farming practices on a substantial scale, with a total of 20 thousand hectares of land currently dedicated to this eco-friendly approach. Around 19,900 farmers are actively engaged in promoting organic farming, revealed Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath during a press conference on Friday.
Earlier, the Minister inaugurated the NERAMAC organic crop sale center, situated within the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Office premises in Agartala today. This center, operated by NERAMAC, is set to offer a diverse range of organically produced crops and products from the region.
Highlighting the forthcoming expansion, the Agriculture Minister announced that the outlet would not only feature products cultivated through natural means but also include offerings from self-help groups and self-entrepreneurs. This diversification aims to cater to the increasing demand for organic goods within the state.
Currently, the state will open NERAMAC outlets at strategic locations including the Agartala Integrated Land Port, Sadar Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s Office, and Secretariat. The expansion plans encompass openings of the outlets at the Agartala Railway Station, Sabroom Integrated Land Port, and Srimantapur Integrated Land Port.
The opening ceremony was attended by key figures such as Apoorba Roy, Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Dr. Phani Bhushan Jamatia, Director of the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department, and Rajeev Ashok, Managing Director of NERAMAC.
The Minister revealed during the press conference that the outlet’s products would soon reach various city wards through a mobile vehicle approved by NERAMAC. This vehicle was also officially flagged off today.
In an endeavor to promote cross-regional trade, the Agriculture Minister announced the dispatch of 32 metric tons of processed maize to Maharashtra through a private agency. The initial phase will involve sending 16 metric tons of maize.
Sharing insights on the global landscape of organic farming, Ratan Lal Nath highlighted that India occupies the fourth position worldwide in terms of organic farming area. This position follows Australia, Argentina, and Spain. India presently boasts approximately 23 lakh hectares of land under organic cultivation, with Sikkim proudly holding the distinction of being declared a 100 percent organic state among the North-Eastern states.
In Tripura, several service providers including AIKOA, Sheel Biotech, and SIMFED have emerged to support and bolster the organic farming movement.
In the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24, noteworthy volumes of produce have been marketed within the state, underscoring the success of organic farming. A remarkable 26 metric tons of aromatic rice, 62 metric tons of ginger, 14 metric tons of turmeric, and a substantial 149 metric tons of pineapple have been cultivated organically. Pineapple production alone accounts for about 50 thousand metric tons, harvested from 5,086 hectares of land within the state.
He also disclosed the Queen variety of pineapple cultivated in the state has earned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, enhancing its unique identity. Moreover, efforts are actively underway to secure GI tags for aromatic lemon, jackfruit, and sabri banana in the near future.