Agartala, August 22, 2025|SKY LINK TIMES
Tripura is taking bold steps towards agricultural diversification and self-reliance with the introduction of exotic fruits like mangosteen, rambutan, and avocado, alongside expanded potato seed production, Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced today at the Nagicherra Horticulture Research Centre.
🔹 Exotic Fruits for Diversification
The state government has initiated trial cultivation of exotic, high-value fruits to provide farmers with new income opportunities.
- Mangosteen: Two saplings sourced from Karnataka have been planted in Tripura.
- Rambutan: Both red and yellow varieties are under trial cultivation.
- Avocado: Already spread across 46 hectares of land in the state, promoted for its nutritional and health benefits.
- Upcoming Introductions: Kiwi, blueberry, and blackberry will soon be introduced for trial cultivation.
“These fruits, if they adapt well to our environment, will be recommended for commercial farming. Mangosteen has very high market value, and avocado is especially beneficial for diabetic patients,” said Nath.
🔹 Strengthening Potato Production
Tripura is also focusing on reducing dependency on other states for potato seeds.
- Current Status: 23,746 farmers cultivate potatoes on 7,622 hectares.
- Past Dependency: Farmers relied on West Bengal, Punjab, or expensive True Potato Seeds from Nagicherra.
- New Seed Production: Since 2023–24, a new process at Agriculture Research Centre (ARC) on 36 kani of land has been introduced.
- Distribution: Seed potatoes cultivated under this initiative were distributed to local farmers.
“Potatoes are in high demand both within and outside Tripura. Our goal is to make the state self-reliant in seed production while supporting farmers with quality inputs,” Nath emphasized.
🔹 Towards Farmer Prosperity
The twin initiatives are part of Tripura’s broader agricultural strategy to:
- Promote high-value crops
- Reduce external dependency
- Improve farmer livelihoods through diversification
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