Tripura Govt planning cultivation of Red Palm Oil and Eco-Tourism to boost agricultural economy

The Tripura government is taking steps to meet the growing demand for red palm oil by planning its cultivation and processing center in the state. Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced the initiative during his visit to a state-run horticulture research complex on Thursday (April 20).

 

Nath said presently India needs to import red palm oil from countries like Malaysia, but once adequate plantations are grown in Tripura, the state can export it to meet the demand of other states. The move is expected to create job opportunities and strengthen the agricultural economy of Tripura, he opined.

 

The minister added that the state government is also planning to establish a Horti-Eco Tourism program to strengthen the farmers’ economy. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is already being prepared for the initiative.

 

Nath emphasized the importance of agriculture-based industries, as they contribute up to 43% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in Tripura. He stated that while the state has developed in the service and tertiary sectors, any industries set up must be agriculture-based to be successful.

 

The minister highlighted the need to motivate farmers to cultivate minimum land to achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture and double farmers’ income. He also mentioned that state agriculture experts recently visited Vietnam to learn about agriculture technology to implement it in the state.

 

Nath attended a master training program on black pepper and emphasized the need to enhance spice cultivation in the state. Tripura presently grows a variety of spices such as ginger and turmeric, which have a huge market in foreign countries. He added that growing spices like ginger could be more beneficial in generating income than growing paddy, and farmers need to be motivated to grow spices to enhance their income.

 

The proposed initiative is expected to boost the agricultural economy of the state and provide employment opportunities. It aligns with the central government’s goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 and achieving self-sufficiency in agriculture.