The state Cooperative Marketing Federation of Tripura (MARKFED) has been given the responsibility of marketing Tripura grown oranges both within the state and outside of the state.
The matter has been taken up seriously by the state government after rampant reports from various parts of the state that indicated that the farmers despite all out efforts had failed to get the desired prices of oranges grown all across the state.
Speaking on the issue, MARKFED Chairman and MLA Krishnadhan Das said, “the state government wants to double the income of farmers as soon as possible. Accordingly, when increasing reports of less prices reach the concerned authorities, MARKFED has been entrusted with the job”.
He said, “Jampui hills were once known as the land of oranges in Tripura but the orange cultivation culture there was replaced by areca nuts. But, still some farmers were toiling hard to produce orange in Tripura. Killa block of Udaipur is the largest orange producing region of the state”.
On being asked on the rates, he said, “the first lot will reach us very shortly. Since these are raw goods, we need to observe the markets first but we will ensure that the farmers can get back more than as to what they have invested”.
He also said that production was much lower this year due to the lockdown period.