Tripura’s Push for Sustainable Agriculture: Minister Ratan Lal Nath Highlights Soil Conservation for Future Generations

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Posted in Featured, Northeast, Tripura
Abhijit Nath, NET Correspondent, Tripura

Agartala, December 18, 2024: Tripura’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Ratan Lal Nath, on Wednesday stressed the importance of sustainable development, emphasizing the need to preserve the state’s soil resources for future generations. Speaking at a workshop on “Land Resource Inventory of Tripura using Geo-Spatial Techniques,” Nath outlined the government’s commitment to ensuring agricultural productivity for hundreds of years.

The workshop was held at Nazrul Kalakshetra in Agartala, was organized by the ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Planning (NBSS & LUP) Regional Centre, Jorhat, in collaboration with Tripura’s Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The event was managed by the State Agriculture Research Centre (SARS), AD Nagar, Agartala, and saw the participation of agricultural scientists, state officials, and policymakers.

Inaugurating the workshop, Minister Nath unveiled a report booklet titled “Survey Activities of Gomati District” and highlighted the state’s limited agricultural land. “Tripura has a total of 60.62 lakh kanis of land, of which only 29.68 lakh kanis are used for crop cultivation. Paddy alone is grown on 15 lakh kanis,” he said.

Calling for a shift towards sustainable agricultural practices, Nath remarked, “Development today is not just about progress but sustainability. We need to use our land in a way that future generations can continue to benefit from its productivity.”

Nath also underscored the importance of soil surveys, noting that such studies were last conducted 28 years ago. He announced that soil surveys have commenced in Gomati and South Tripura districts, with plans to expand to other districts. “Soil is the backbone of agriculture. Farmers need support to adopt modern cultivation methods, and we urge agriculture and horticulture officers to provide that assistance,” he added.

Minister Nath shared insights into Tripura’s agricultural performance, noting that the state has a paddy productivity rate of 3,299 kg per hectare, second only to Punjab’s 4,340 kg per hectare. He also highlighted Tripura’s achievements in other crops, stating, “Tripura ranks second in the production of areca nuts after Arunachal Pradesh and sem phali lima beans after Jammu and Kashmir. With proper steps, districts like South Tripura, Gomati, and Sepahijala have the potential to become self-sufficient in paddy production.”

Dr. N.J. Patil, Director of ICAR-NBSS & LUP, Nagpur, commended Tripura for its pioneering approach to soil conservation. “Tripura is the first state to undertake soil inventory on a 1:10,000 scale. This is a visionary step that future generations will appreciate. Land is something we borrow from them, and protecting soil health is essential,” Dr. Patil said.

He highlighted challenges such as climate change, groundwater depletion, and changing soil textures, calling for innovative solutions to optimize land use. “Oil palm cultivation and citrus fruit production have immense potential in the Northeast, but they must be managed carefully to ensure soil sustainability,” he added.

Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Apurba Roy, emphasized the need for scientific methods in soil conservation. “The last soil study was conducted in 1996. Over this long period, the soil has undergone significant changes. This new study will guide us scientifically and must be expanded to all districts in a phased manner,” Roy said.

Dr. K.K. Mourya, Principal Investigator at NBSS & LUP, presented a detailed PowerPoint on the physiography of Gomati and South Tripura, describing their diverse landscapes, including valleys, ridges, and undulating topography. The survey, conducted over a year, has laid the groundwork for future land management strategies.

During the second part of the workshop, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to extend soil surveys to three additional districts in Tripura. The initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity through comprehensive soil testing and resource management.

Director of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Saradindu Das, highlighted the importance of soil testing in increasing crop yields, particularly potatoes and other high-demand crops.

The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by the Joint Director of Agriculture (Research), SARS, AD Nagar, and participation from other notable figures, including Dr. S.K. Reja from NBSS & LUP, Nagpur, and Dr. P.B. Jamatia, Director of Horticulture and Soil Conservation.

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