Kokborak Edition

The economy of Tripura is mainly dependent on Agriculture. About 70% of the total population of the state is, directly and indirectly, dependent on Agriculture. As a result of relentless efforts of state Agriculture Dept., during last five decades, the production of foodgrains has increased almost four times. Nevertheless, the rapid growth of population and limited irrigation facilities has made the state still a food deficit state. 

A good amount is spent by the state Govt. every year for import of food grains. This amount, if utilized for infrastructure development, might have played an important role towards achieving self-sufficiency in food grains.

It is, in this context, that a committee, comprising Agriculture and Allied Dept., was constituted to prepare a perspective plan for achieving self-sufficiency in food within a reasonable time frame and also to suggest specific measures to be under taken for achieving this goal. After careful and critical examination of all relevant an available data in respect of land, water, population, seed, fertilizer, credit, extension organizations etc. prepared a perspective plan for the period from 2001 to 2010 and this plan was approved by the state Govt. in a meeting chaired by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tripura.

According to the decision of that meeting a details work-plan was also finalised for the year 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. All the concerned Depts. viz.- Agriculture, Irrigation, Power, Rural Development, Tribal welfare and Financial Institution, were instructed to take necessary steps for implementation of the work-plan> The Agriculture Dept. will play a pivotal role in this regard.

Per capita daily requirement – 500 grm. Rice.

 Present level of deficit is 2.18 lakh M.T. By the year 2005, the level of deficit will be reduced to only 73 thousand M.T.

By the year 2010, there will be a surplus production of 18 thousand M.T.

The production targets for pulses are – 17 thousand M.T. by the year 2005 and 30 thousand M.T. by the year 2010; as a result, per capita daily consumption of pulses will increase to 11 gm. by the year 2005 and 17 gm. by the year 2010.

 The salient features of this Plan are as follows:-

 *      Irrigation potential will be raised from the present level of 51,000 hac. to 1,16,867 hac. by 2010.

*      The cropping intensity under Rice based cropping system is to increase from the present level of 169% to 283%.

 *     The productivity of Jhum Rice to be raised from the present level of 600 kg. per Hac. by adopting improved package of practices.

 *        The present area under low yielding local verities of Rice to be replaced gradually with short duration H.Y.V. Rice as first Kharif crop.

 *      Medium duration H.Y.V. Rice varieties yielding atleast 3,000 kg. per hac. to be grown as 2^nd Kharif crop.

 *       Rice varieties having potential of atleast 3,500 kg. per hac. to be grown in Rabi.

 *      58,000 hac. (42% of 2^nd Kharif area) and 50,000 hac. ( 50% of Rabi Rice area) will be put under Hybrid rice by the year 2010.

 *      The area under Pulses to be increased from the present level of 9,800 hac. to 34,000 hac.

 *        Area under Potato to be increased form 5,000 hac. to 10,000 hac.

 *       Agriculture has been considered as an economic activity and not merely subsistence farming.

 *      Adequate flow of investment through credit institutes can only ensure achievement of goals suggested in the plan.

 STRATEGIES TO BE ADOPTED

                         The committee after ascertaining the availability of land and requirement of food for the project population suggested the following strategies for adoption.

 *             Increasing irrigation potential to the maximum possible. 

*             Enhancing cropping intensity to the maximum possible extent. 

*             Seed replacement.  

*             Varietal replacement. 

*           Enhancing consumption of plant nutrient.  

*           Incorporation of bio-fertilizer in conjunction with inorganic fertilizers. 

*             Integrated Pest Management. 

*             Research Support. 

*             Adequate Farm Power.

*             Adequate Credit. 

*             Efficient extension support. 

*             Ensuring people’s participation. 

                        The issue of food security demands fullest attention for the hilly and remote state like Tripura. With this objectives the state Govt. has adopted this plan so as to improve the socio-economic status of the farming community of the state and thus expects wholehearted co-operation and active participation from the people of all walks of life, specially the representatives of three tier panchayet and Autonomous District Council as well as the concerned Govt. officials.