Agartala: In a major step towards strengthening agricultural productivity and achieving self-sufficiency in food-grain production, the Tripura Agriculture Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Bureau of Soil Survey (NBSS), Nagpur. The collaboration aims to carry out scientific research on cultivable land across multiple districts of the state, laying the foundation for sustainable and data-driven farming practices.
The development was announced by Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath while inaugurating a workshop on “Land Resource Inventory of Tripura using Geo-Spatial Techniques” at Pragya Bhawan on Wednesday. Addressing the gathering, the Minister emphasized that achieving self-reliance in agriculture is not possible without proper research on land resources.
“Land is the most crucial factor in agriculture, followed by seeds, water availability, and scientific cultivation practices. To ensure self-sufficiency, we began working three years ago to assess the condition of soil layers across the state,” Nath said. He added that the Agriculture Department had formulated a comprehensive plan to make Tripura self-reliant in agriculture.
As part of the initiative, South Tripura and Gomati districts were initially selected for detailed soil surveys. Soil scientists from NBSS, Nagpur conducted extensive studies and submitted their findings. Based on the success of this exercise, the state government signed an MoU with NBSS to extend similar surveys to three more districts—North Tripura, Dhalai, and Unakoti. The reports for these districts were presented during the workshop, while surveys for the remaining districts—West Tripura, Sepahijala, and Khowai—are yet to be completed.
The Minister noted that such scientific planning had not been undertaken earlier. Drawing from his three decades in politics, Nath said previous governments spoke about food-grain self-sufficiency but lacked a clear roadmap. “Soil scientists can guide us on which crops—be it palm oil, rubber, millet, or paddy—are suitable for specific regions,” he said, adding that future cultivation plans will be prepared in consultation with experts to directly benefit farmers.
Nath also highlighted the government’s achievements, stating that the number of food-grain self-sufficient blocks has increased from 22 to 30 since the present government assumed office, with five more expected this year. He further hinted at more agricultural products from Tripura receiving GI tags in the future.
Agriculture Department Secretary Apurba Roy, Director Fani Bhushan Jamatia, State Nodal Officer Dr. Uttam Saha, and other senior officials were present at the event.
