TRIPURA TOWARDS PROSPERITY

Workshop on “Emerging Challenges in Agriculture and Allied Sectors in North East”

27th to 29th March 2011, Pragna Bhawan,

Pandit Nehru complex, Agartala.

GOVERNMENT OF TRIPURA Department of Agriculture

CONTENTS

History of Agriculture in Tripura 1

Agriculture Profile of Tripura 4

Recent initiatives by the State Government 14

Significant Achievements 17

 Yield maximization of Rice with less input and Investment 17

 Production of HYV certified Seeds 24

 Development of Irrigation 28

 Floriculture - A blooming enterprise 30

 Staggering of Pineapple - New hope to the producer 32

 True Potato Seed (TPS) - A revolution in Potato Cultivation 35

HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE IN TRIPURA

Tripura, one of the smallest cultivation, was practiced in the states in the country is situated in the hillyareas as the only form of South-West corner of North Eastern agriculture. region of India and lies approximately in between 210-50' N Latitude and 910 The plough cultivation was -10' E Longitude. The name Tripura is probably introduced in Tripura during th believed to be coined from two Kokborok 15 century A.D. when the plain land words ‘twi’ and ‘pra’ meaning ‘water’ cultivators from adjoining districts of and ‘near’ respectively. It is believed Bengal came to this State. The Jhumias that the land was originally known as coming in contacts with immigrants “Twipra” meaning ‘a land near water’. learnt the benefits of plough cultivation It is believed that in ancient times the and became interested in owning land Bay of Bengal had its shores near for cultivation. This was evident from Tripura. a step taken by the then Maharaja of this State in 1913 T.E. (1930 A.D.) that The State was mainly hilly and he kept 28,490 hectares in Khowai extensively covered with forest during Sub-Division called “Kalyanpur the erstwhile Maharaja’s time and Reserve” for settlement of Jhumias. ‘Jhum’ popularly known as Shifting Subsequently the reserved areas for

- 1 - Jhumia settlement was increased Husbandry, and Fisheries were being substantially in 1941. looked after by a small setup headed by one Superintendent. A Director of In 1895, Maharaja Birchandra Agriculture was appointed for the first Manikaya created an Agriculture wing time in 1950. He was assisted by a in his Ministry for encouraging people group of Officers of Agriculture and in settled Agriculture as well as Animal allied disciplines. In the year 1959, Husbandry, Fishery and Sericulture as Department of Animal Husbandry was these were the main source of carved out from the Department of livelihood. Shri Banga Chandra Agriculture with its own setup. Bhattacharjee was appointed as the chief of the Agriculture wing which was In the year 1963 the Department saw its first expansion by way of housed in the Lalbari (Red Mahal) of creation of three zone of operation the palace, for the first time. The namely Central Zone, North Zone and Minister in-charge of Education during South Zone with its headquarters at that period even wanted to include Agartala, Dharmanagar and Udaipur. agriculture in the curricula of senior Subsequently during 1970 these Zonal classes of the schools of the State. Offices were re-designated as District The Princely State acceded to the Offices co-terminating with the Indian union on 15th October, 1949 as administrative districts. The district a Union territory and attained offices were headed by a Deputy statehood in the year 1972. Before Director of Agriculture along with attaining Statehood the developmental supporting technical officers and activities of Agriculture, Animal ministerial staff.

- 2 - With the rising population the started functioning as an independent demand for better service in the field Department. In the year 1983 further of agriculture and allied sectors was felt seven Agriculture Sub Divisions were which made way for the extensive created bringing the total number of expansion of the concerned Agriculture Sub Divisions to departments up to the grass-root level. 17(seventeen). Presently the total number of Agriculture Sub Divisions The year 1973 saw the expansion of the stands at 22(twenty two). Agriculture Department at the Sub Division level supported by Agricultural The good agro-climatic Sectors, each sector comprises of 10- conditions, deep fertile soils, sub- 15 Gram Panchayets. Ten Agricultural tropical humid climate with abundance Sub Divisions co-terminus with the of rainfall offer tremendous scope for Revenue Sub divisions of the state were development of Horticulture sector in set up. Each Agriculture Sub Division the state. To tap the immense potential of Horticulture and Plantation crops in office was headed by a Superintendent the state as well the urgent need for of Agriculture supported by appropriate undertaking soil and water technical and ministerial staffs and conservation activities has resulted in Agricultural Sector Offices headed by creation of a separate Directorate for Agriculture Graduates as Sector Horticulture and Soil conservation in Officers to facilitate effective the year 1985 and a State Land Use implementation of all development Board in the year 1988. The expansion programmes. Simultaneous the in the Horticultural sector was also services of all the Village Level Workers subsequently taken up with the setting who were working under the up of Subdivision level Horticulture and administrative control of the Block Soil conservation offices. Development Officer as per the The Department of Agriculture structure of Community Development since its inception not only saw the Programme were withdrawn and placed setting up of offices but a number of under the Superintendent of Seed production farms, progeny Agriculture. Each Agriculture Sub orchards along with State Agricultural Division was further divided into Research Station and Horticultural Agriculture Sectors comprising of VLW Research Station were set up. The state circles to ensure the delivery of services had also set up an Up-Graded Gram and facilities right up to farmers at the Sevak Training Centre way back in the grass-root level. In the year 1978 the year 1957 for imparting training to the discipline of Fishery was separated Village Level Workers on modern from the Agriculture Department and agricultural technology.

- 3 - AGRICULTURE PROFILE OF TRIPURA

The hilly State of Tripura has a use. The demographic features of geographical area of 10, 49, 169 population in Tripura based on the hectares. There are several parallel hill Census, 2001 also reflect on the ranges that run from North to South. increase in population density per Sq The alluvial plains of Tripura include km. which has gradually grown from the narrow valleys locally known as 148 in 1971 to 305 in 2001. “lungas” that lie between two hills mainly in the western part of Tripura. Tripura has very low level of These lungas are fertile and rice based urbanization combined with a very cropping system is followed. About 60% uneven regional distribution of of the total area of the State is classified population (a big divide between the as forest. The State has 6(six) major West District and the rest). Only 17 % rivers. A number of West, North and of the population is urban (national South –flowing rivers originate in the 20%). The proportion of rural hills of Tripura and flow into population to the total ranges from 73 Bangladesh. The riverbeds are shallow percent in the West District to an and narrow are not navigable. During overwhelming 94 percent in the Dhalai rainy season the rivers are in spate and district. The population of Tripura is flood their valleys although in winter characterized by social diversity. they almost run dry. Specifically, people of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) comprises about one-third Demographic Features : of the population.

The population of the state since its accession to the Indian Union has Growth of Population in Tripura been consistently on the rise resulting Tripura India in the increasing demand for food grain. Census Decennial Decennial Population Population Information on the growth of year Growth Growth (in lakhs) (in lakhs) Rate (%) Rate (%) population is presented in the table. 1961 11.42 76.86 4392.3 21.64 With the rise in the population the 1971 15.56 36.28 5481.6 24.8 pressure on the land available for agriculture has raised immensely as 1981 20.53 31.92 6833.3 24.66 more and more agricultural land are 1991 27.57 34.3 8464.2 23.87 being converted into non agricultural 2001 31.99 16.03 10286.1 21.52

- 4 - Climate : Area, Production and Yield of crops during 2009-10 Yield in Area in Production Crops Kg/ ha or The state of Tripura enjoys a Hectares in MT bale/ha typical climate with variation ranging Aush Rice 21289 46619 2190 from sub–tropical to temperate Aman Rice 146488 406031 2772 conditions in hilly areas. The climate Jhum Rice 14552 14423 991 of Tripura exhibits a strong seasonal Boro Rice 63209 172961 2736 rhythm. The year is divided into 4 Total Rice 245538 640034 2607 characteristic seasons - Winter Maize 2018 2030 1006 (December–February), Pre-monsoon Wheat 667 1323 1984 Arhar 987 716 725 (March-April), Monsoon (May- Kharif Pulses 2388 1541 645 September), Post Monsoon (October – Rabi Pulses 2755 2066 750 November). The average annual rainfall Total Foodgrains 254353 647710 2547 in the state is 2,428 mm (Long Term Sesamum 1532 873 570 Average) The maximum and minimum Kharif Groundnut 236 255 1080 temperature during winter season are Rape & Mustard 1495 1147 767

270C and 110C and during summer Rabi Groundnut 187 208 1112 season are 330C and 230C Jute * 468 3777 8.07 respectively. The maximum and Mesta * 779 5633 7.24 minimum relative humidity is 85% and Cotton ** 965 1438 1.49 57% in the month of July and January Sugarcane 879 44913 51096 respectively. Potato 5682 94554 16641 * indicates Production in Bales of 180 Kg each. Land Use Pattern : ** indicates Production in Bales of 170 Kg each.

Fragmentation of land holding is geographical area (All India 43%). still continuing as a part of social Availability of cultivable land is one of phenomenon. The average size of the the main constraints in the state. The holding has declined from 1.25 gross cropped area and net cropped hectares in 1976-77 to 0.50 hectare in area are 4.48 lakh hectares and 2.55 2005-06. Small and marginal farmers lakh hectares respectively. The constitute 96% of the total farmers in cropping intensity is 176%. the state (All India 81%). According to Cropping Pattern : 2001 census, about 51 % of total main workers are engaged in agriculture in The cropping pattern in Tripura Tripura (All India 58%). The net sown is characterized by two distinct farming area is only about 24% of the state’s systems, i.e. settled cultivation in the

- 5 - plains and shifting cultivation in the and Cashewnut. The State is still the hills. Paddy, Pulses and Oilseeds are largest producer of True Potato Seed the major crops grown in the state. (TPS) in the country and is surplus in Paddy is grown in 55% of gross cropped several vegetable crops including area in three seasons viz. Aush(pre- Cabbage, Cauliflower, Tomato and Kharif), Aman(Kharif) and different Cucurbitaceous crops. The Boro(Summer) whereas pulses and current status of area, production and oilseeds and other crops altogether productivity of some important crops cover about 5% area. Fruits and is given below : vegetables are covered in 21% of gross Sl. Area Production Productivity cropped area, 10% area is under rubber Crop No. (ha.) (MT) (MT/ha.) and 9% under other miscellaneous crops like tea, medicinal plants etc. The 1 Pineapple 6476 117531 18.15 major Kharif crops are rice, maize, 2 Jackfruit 7636 251569 32.95 pigeon pea, black gram, green gram, 3 Banana 7486 105615 14.11 cowpea, ground nut, sesame, jute, mesta, cotton, and Kharif vegetables. 4 Orange 3162 22230 7.03

Different crops taken during Rabi 5 Coconut 5784 11384 1.97 season are rice, wheat, pea, green gram, 6 Cashewnut 4387 2345 0.53 lentil, rapeseed-mustard, potato, and Summer 7 13869 166177 11.98 Rabi vegetables. vegetables Winter vegetables Horticultural crops : 8 18626 280741 15.07 including potato Till 2009-10, about 88,700 ha area has been under cultivation of Soil and Water Conservation : fruits (36,598 ha), plantation crops (14,614 ha), vegetables (32495 ha), With an objective of arresting spices (4885 ha) and flowers (108 ha). degradation of natural resources and With agriculture, this sector has been for restoration of proper soil health, the single largest provider of watershed approach was adopted employment to the rural people of the during 8th five year plan and has been State. Among the important continuing in sustained manner till horticultural crops Pineapple grown in now. In 11th Five Year Plan, 79 Tripura is widely acclaimed as the best National Watershed Development in the country, beside good quality Projects in Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) production of Orange, Banana, Jack and 33 Watershed Development

- 6 - Projects in Shifting Cultivation Areas kinds of watershed projects in the (WDPSCA) covering 35,500 hectares states of the country for which separate and 15,000 hectares respectively have arrangement has been specified for been envisaged for integrated restructuring organizational setup at development of the catchment areas. National level, State level, District level Some major interventions during last and PIA level, besides changing some three years have been made are as guiding principles of implementation of under. these projects in the coming days as “Integrated Watershed Management  In situ soil and moisture Project” (IWMP) . At National level, conservation measures like contour NRAA (National Rainfed Area Authority) bunding, field bunding, vegetative under the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. barriers etc in 2564 ha area, of India with multidisciplinary  Agronomic conservation professional experts, have been practices, crop demonstration in constituted for the purpose and in the 1644 ha area state a State Level Nodal Agency(SLNA)  Dry land horticulture/ has been constituted during July, 2009 plantation/ afforestation in 1309 ha with Principal Secretary, Agriculture as area its Chairman for planning and implementation of all IWMP projects .  Soil conservation structures like In accordance with new Common Check Dam, sunken ponds, run off Guidelines of GOI, an eighteen year management structures in 1253 ha Perspective Plan for Development of area Watersheds have been drawn up,  Creation of water bodies in 2472 coinciding 11th , 12th , 13th & 14th ha area and Plan period for covering balance 328

 Providing rehabilitation activities micro watersheds (out of total 615 like piggery, duckery, weaving etc to micro watersheds, covering 5,03,712 5121 families. ha area) of the state covering 2,68, 158 hectares area with total involvement of State Level Nodal Agency for Rs. 402 .28 crores . Till now, 287 micro Integrated Watershed Management watersheds, covering 2,35,111 hectares Project(IWMP): area have been treated under different programmes. In the month of March’08, Govt. of India has issued new Common Guidelines for implementation of all - 7 - PERSPECTIVE PLANS

Agriculture : food grains.

The State Government in the The Perspective Plan has been Department of Agriculture formulated revisited and action plan finalized for a 10-Year Perspective Plan with the implementation up to 2011-12 through ultimate objective of achieving self- the extension of the plan by two more sufficiency in food grains production. years. This extension would help a mid- Implementation of the Perspective Plan term correction to attain self-sufficiency was initiated in 2000-01. Till 2009-10, by abridging the gap between the food the food grains production was grain requirement of the state and the increased to 6.48 lakh tons from 5.13 present level of production. The lakh tons in 1999-00 against the Perspective Plan under implementation requirement of 8.22 lakh tons. The gap at present envisaged the measures to in 2009-10 was 1.74 lakh tons. be taken in 2010-11 and 2011-12 are to bring 20,000 hectares of additional The table below clearly reveals area under Kharif and Rabi Paddy in that all the parameters of the two years, bringing area under SRI up agriculture sector performed to one lakh hectare from 59,577 ha. in significantly on account of 2009-10, introduction of Hybrid Paddy implementation of Perspective Plan in in 10,330 hectares, area under Maize the state. However, there was shortfall to be increased to 5,000 hectares from in achieving the target of 8.22 lakh ton 2352 hectares, Hybrid Maize

Significant Achievements of Perspective Plan : Agriculture

Sl. 1999-2000 Components 2009-10 No. (Pre Perspective Plan) 1 HYV Seed Replacement Rate (%) 2.80% 33% 2 Production of food grains (Lakh MT) 5.13 6.48 3 Productivity of Jhum (Kg./Ha.) 509 991 4 Production of HYV Certified Seeds in the state ( MT) - 4,440 5 Distribution of Chemical Fertilizer(MT) 24917 37,410 6 Per Ha. Use of chemical fertilizer (Kg/Ha) 25 39 7 Bio-Fertilizer Use (MT) 1.4 258 1,32,893 8 Kisan Credit Card issued (nos.) - (cumulative since inception) 9 Farmers’ Trained (Nos.) 7150 70,000 10 SRI Coverage (in Ha) - 59,577

- 8 - cultivation to be introduced in plain mechanization, increasing cropping land/table land situations, 5115 intensity from 176% to 206%, crop hectares new area to be covered under specific training to farmers for adoption Pulses cultivation taking the total area of modern agricultural technologies, under Pulses to 12,500 hectares, farmers’ field schools for the whole 10,000 hectares to be covered under cropping season, increasing the flow of Oilseeds, 100% seed treatment, short credit to Agriculture through KCC etc. duration HYVs are being popularized The State Government has given to increase cropping intensity wherever utmost importance for implementation feasible in irrigated situation, of the programme. This has resulted in production of HYV certified seeds of likely increase in food grains production Paddy, Pulses, Mustard in the state from 6.48 lakh tons to 7.12 lakh tons through registered growers and in the in current year. The Government has also given due importance on irrigation government farms, amelioration of and has been taken steps to cover acidic soils in 40,000 hectares area, use entire 1.17 lakh hectares irrigable land of micronutrients in 25,000 hectares, by 2012. balanced and optimum use of fertilizers to be promoted together with use of Horticulture : organic manures & bio fertilizers to optimize the efficiency of nutrient use, A ten year “Perspective Plan for per hectare use of chemical fertilizer to Development of Horticulture (2002- be increased from 39 kg to 99 kg, 2012” was adopted with target for creating buffer stock of fertilizers for bringing additional 12,750 ha under ensuring availability as per need of the cultivation, in addition to existing farmers, promoting farm 71,953 ha ,for increasing production - 9 - of fruits from 3.00 lakh MT to 4.05 lakh in pursuit of achieving the targets set MT, vegetables from 3.25 lakh MT to out for each of those items converging 4.38 lakh MT , bringing 100 ha under all schematic resources. floriculture and 100 ha under organic farming. In first revision of the Plan Significant achievements during (2006) additional coverage increased this Plan period includes establishment to 16,957 ha for increasing production of 47 multi-crop nurseries for of fruits to 6.05 lakh MT and to achieve production of quality planting all targets of the Plan within 8 years materials, increase in production of (i.e. within 2009-10). Then, in the Mango and Banana, higher growth rate second revision (2008) some course in vegetable production (5.39% correction suggested were: Intensive annual), cultivation of exotic and off- crop management plan for 14,509 season vegetable (like , Capsicum, hectare additional area already covered, Carrot, summer Cabbage, Summer inclusion of suitable root and tuber Tomato, Pointed Gourd, KnolKhol), crops, assured supply of inputs commercial floriculture – both under especially chemical fertilizers, protected ( Anthurium, Orchid, Rejuvenation of old, senile orchards, Gerbera) and Open field (Marigold, starting seed production programme Tuberose, Gladiolus & Rose) for vegetables, augmentation of the conditions. existing tissue-culture laboratory, implementation of Nursery Act for Animal Resources Development: regulation of quality. Considering the wide gap

In a further review in December, between demand & supply of milk, 2009 more suggestions came in were : meat & egg availability, Animal additional 2,000 ha. coverage under Resources Development Department selected fruits like mango, banana, has launched a 10-year Perspective papaya, litchi etc. and 2,500 ha. under Plan for the period from 2002-03 to vegetables, crop-specific training to 2011-12, with the objective to march growers in situ , massive publicity and towards attaining self sufficiency in campaigns on enterprising prospects of production of milk, meat & egg and to horticultural crops, food processing create avenues for self employment through SHGs’. Accordingly, the Plan based on Animal Resources. Through has been revisited and action plan a series of various interventions like finalized for 2010-11 & 2011 - 12 and Artificial Insemination, heifer rearing, implementation has been continuing pig breeding, brooder houses, backyard

- 10 - poultry, fodder cultivation and poultry farming. In order to achieve the Veterinary measures such as production target of 1,15,986 MT of vaccination, de-worming etc, milk, 33,646 MT of meat and 20.56 production of milk has crossed the 1 Crores of egg during 2011-12, lakh ton mark in the year 2009-10. In appropriate interventions like the meat sector, the achievement was introduction of 200 high yielding cross- 21,102 ton, which translates to 5.82 Kg per capita availability per annum bred milch cows from outside state and is higher than the national average through Milk Union, increasing the of 5.35 Kg/ annum. Production of egg number of cross-bred population was 14.42 crores with a per capita through intensification of 1.50 lakh AI, availability of 40 eggs per annum in organizing 500 fertility camps for 2009-10. improving conception rate, mass de- worming programme and supply of In meat sector, the achievement mineral mixtures, capacity building of is not only slightly higher than the farmers, aggressive campaign for national average but also there is self cultivation of fodder in farmers’ land, sufficiency. In egg sector, the setting up of beneficiary oriented 400 achievement is slightly below than the piggery demonstration units, Tapioca national average of 57 eggs per annum cultivation in 1000 farmers’ field and it is further planned for a major convergence of fund under MGNREGA, break-through by promoting block level development of 1000 fodder plots brooder houses to supply disease free during intercropping period in farmers’ high return poultry birds for backyard fields, supply of 6 Lakh poultry birds - 11 - to down-stream beneficiaries for farmers, organizing suitable training backyard poultry rearing, programmes for them, demonstration Strengthening of Govt. Poultry & Duck of various technologies of scientific fish breeding farms etc. have been planned culture in farmer’s ponds, creation of to achieve per capita availability of 85 at least one Model Aquaculture Village gram milk per day, 9 Kg meat per and one Soil & Water Testing annum and 55 eggs per annum by Laboratory in each Block of the State, 2011-12. formation of fishery based Self Help Groups (SHGs) and encouraging/ Fisheries : training them to undertake scientific

An eight year Perspective Plan to fish culture and establish Fish Feed attain nutritional self sufficiency Manufacturing Plants, through (availability of fish - 13 kg/ capita) for Institutional Finance, were the various the expected populace by end of Xlth initiatives initially taken to achieve the Plan (2011-12), was initiated by the target. State Govt. during 2004-05. By the end of Xth Plan period, an Entrepreneurship development, and in average annual growth rate of 19.8% turn generating additional employment in fish production (28,634 tons in opportunities, especially in the rural 2006-07 against 17,980 tons in base sector, was the added objectives of this year 2003-04), 15.1% in average Plan. With achievements made during first three years of its implementation productivity of culture waters (1859 kg/ (2004-05 to 2006-07) generally ha/yr in 2006-07 against 1280 kg/ha/ surpassing the targets, the Plan was yr in 2003-04) and 15.8% in per capita suitably modified into a seven year Plan availability of fish (8.7 kg in 2006-07 and target date advanced to 2010-11 against 5.9 kg in 2003-04) could be (expected fish eating population 34.87 achieved, against targeted avo annual lakh and requirement of fish 45,330 growth rates of 15.4%, 14.7% and ton). 11.9% respectively. With creation of new water bodies, the available culture The basic strategies of this Plan resource increased by 14.1% (15,160 centered around bringing in all ha in 2006-07 against 13,290 ha in available cultivable waters under 2003-04) during the period. scientific fish culture with average fish production of 3 tons/ha/annum by the Some need based additional end of the Plan period. Creating initiatives were taken during Xlth Plan awareness & motivation amongst fish period. They pertained to: popularizing

- 12 - rearing and use of “stunted fingerlings”, resource, it has also been a cause of introduction of “aerators” in High Tech low annual growth in average fish culture, bringing in small water productivity of culture ponds, since bodies (0.05 to 0.07 ha) under scientific newly created water bodies are known fish culture, replacement of genetically to take some time to normalize and deteriorated existing brood stock, attain normal productivity. It is pisciculture in water bodies of expected that by end of Perspective Plan regrouped villages/ palla holders & period (2010-11) the envisaged target forest areas and establishment of Fish of fish production of 45,330 tons would Feed Analysis & Fish Disease be achieved, even with an annual Diagnostic Laboratories. growth rate of 7.2% during this year, providing 13.1 kg/per capita of fish to By the end of 2009-10 (third year the expected populace of the State. of Xlth Plan), it has been possible to increase fish production to 42,285 tons Besides continued efforts to (av. annual growth during plan 15.9%), achieve higher fish production and per average productivity to 2154 kg/ha/yr ha productivity through on-going (av. annual growth 5.3%) and per capita programmes, the new initiatives availability of fish to 12.31 kg (av. proposed for Annual Plan of 2011-12 annual growth 13.8%). With creation are: short-term fish culture in seasonal of new water bodies an important water bodies, extensive fish culture in programme under MGNREGA, there large water bodies (>2ha) and pen has been tremendous increase culture in large water bodies (>5ha). It (35.4%)in available culture resource is expected that by end of Xlth Plan during these three years (20,521 ha in Period (2011-12) the per capita 2009-10 against 15,160 in 2006-07). availability of fish in the State would Though it has resulted in increase in be beyond 14 kg.

- 13 - RECENT INITIATIVES BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT

Interventions through RKVY: cultivation of paddy following SRI techniques, 100% Seed Treatment, The implementation of Rashtriya Hybrid Paddy Cultivation, Hybrid Maize Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) has been cultivation, Reclamation of acidic soils started in the state at the end of 2007- , management of micro nutrient 08. Forty one projects under Stream-I deficient soils, minor irrigation through of RKVY have been undertaken during small bore tube well and submersible the first three years across all segments pump, Farm Mechanization through of agriculture and allied sectors viz. Power tillers and power sprayers, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal development of village markets, area Resource Development, Fisheries, expansion in Horticultural crops, Block TTAADC and Tripura Co-operative Milk plantation of Pineapple with chemical Producers’ Union Ltd. During 2010-11, staggering, Tissue Cultured Banana forty nine projects are under cultivation with drip irrigation, implementation. Production of Certified Vegetable Seeds, Promotion of TPS-tuberlet technology The projects under RKVY are for production of Table Potato, primarily aimed at increasing crop Introduction of Mosambi in upland productivity per unit area. Some of the areas, Cultivation of orange in non- important projects in Agriculture are traditional areas, Demonstrative

- 14 - cultivation of less fibre – Ginger, ecological balance of the area, the State Rejuvenation of Govt. orchards for Government has drawn up a project for increasing production of quality implementation in next three years with planting materials, support for the financial support from the development of Poultry, Piggery, Dairy Government of India. and Fisheries sector. Action Plan for Agriculture and allied Economic activities under the Forest departments for utilization of land Dwellers’ Right Act (FRA) : under Forest Dwellers Act:

An area of about 1,77,000  To bring 25,000 hectares of hectares has been distributed to additional area under Agricultural 1,17,000 tribals of the State under “The crops over a period of three years.

Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional  To bring 35,000 hectares of Forest Dwellers’ (Recognition of Forest additional area under Horticulture Rights) Act -2006. A part of this virgin and plantation crops over a period land will be brought under zero tillage of three years. for agriculture and a larger area under  To bring 34,500 hectares of horticultural intervention. To provide additional area under Bamboo sustainable livelihood opportunities to cultivation over a period of three the Forest Dwellers while retaining their years. symbiotic relationship with the forest and ensuring their socio-economic  To bring 10,000 hectares under development as well as retaining the fodder and Tapioca cultivation.

- 15 -  Encouraging apiculture. spanning over three years. The details are appended in the following table : Financial involvement :

A total of Rs. 440.16 crores is being estimated for the first phase

Targeted Area Financial Assistance Total Financial Sector Purpose (hectares) (Rs / hectare) involvement (Lakhs) 1st Year Land development 10,000 20,000.00 2,000.00 Agriculture Cultivation cost 10,000 10,000.00 1,000.00 Sub Total Agriculture :- 10,000 3,000.00 Land development 10,000 10,000.00 1,000.00 Horticulture Plantation Cost 10,000 40,000.00 4,000.00 Sub Total Horticulture :- 10,000 5,000.00 Bamboo Cultivation cost 11,500 17,348.00 1,995.02 Sub Total Bamboo :- 11,500 1,995.02 Land development 3,000 10,000.00 300.00 ARDD Cultivation cost 3,000 37,500.00 1,125.00 Sub Total ARDD :- 3,000 1,425.00 Total of 1st year :- 34,500 11,420.02 2nd Year Land development 10,000 20,000.00 2,000.00 Agriculture Cultivation cost 10,000 10,000.00 1,000.00 Micro irrigation 500 2,45,000.00 1,225.00 Sub Total Agriculture :- 10,000 4,225.00 Land development 15,000 10,000.00 1,500.00 Horticulture Plantation Cost 15,000 40,000.00 6,000.00 Maintenance Cost 8,000 15,000.00 1,200.00 Sub Total Horticulture :- 15,000 8,700.00 Cultivation cost 11,500 19,083.04 2,194.55 Bamboo Maintenance Cost 11,500 5,665.04 651.48 Sub Total Bamboo :- 11,500 2,846.03 Land development 4,000 10,000.00 400.00 ARDD Cultivation cost 4,000 37,500.00 1,500.00 Sub Total ARDD :- 4,000 1,900.00 Total of 2nd year :- 40,500 17,671.03 3rd Year Land development 5000 20,000.00 1,000.00 Agriculture Cultivation cost 5000 10,000.00 500.00 Sub Total Agriculture :- 5000 1,500.00 Land development 10,000 10,000.00 1,000.00 Horticulture Plantation Cost 10,000 40,000.00 4,000.00 Maintenance Cost 12,000 15,000.00 1,800.00 Sub Total Horticulture :- 10,000 6,800.00 Cultivation cost 11,500 20,991.04 2,413.97 Bamboo Maintenance Cost 11,500 8,360.00 961.40 Sub Total Bamboo :- 11,500 4,000.00 Land development 3,000 10,000.00 300.00 ARDD Cultivation cost 3,000 37,500.00 1,125.00 Sub Total ARDD :- 3,000 1,425.00 Total of 3rd year :- 29,500 13,725.00 4th Year Horticulture Maintenance Cost 8,000 15,000.00 1,200.00 Grand Total 1,04,500 44,016.05 - 16 - SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

Yield Maximization of Rice with less fields, uses lesser seed and chemical input and investment : inputs, and promotes soil biotic activities in, on and around plant roots, The System of Rice enhanced through liberal applications Intensification (SRI) offers an of compost and weeding with a rotating interesting alternative to improve rice hoe that aerates the soil. These changed productivity. It is a system of practices practices with lower inputs counter- that can bring about improvements in intuitively lead to improved rice total factors of productivity of land, productivity with yield of 4.8 - 5 .0 capital, water and labour tonnes/ha. simultaneously. SRI is a system of growing rice that involves principles Initial trials on SRI were that are at times radically different from undertaken in the State Agricultural traditional ways of growing rice. It Research Station, A.D.Nagar, in the involves single seedling transplantation year 1999-2000 during Boro season of young seedlings with care instead of under irrigated condition. The process the conventional method of was continued till 2003-04 had yielded transplanting multiple and mature encouraging results. During this period seedlings from the nursery. SRI spaces trials were also taken up in farmers rice plants more widely and does not field which also showed positive results depend on continuous flooding of rice and at the same time the farmers were

- 17 - completely amazed by the outcome. % to Total Area Total Paddy Area covered Paddy Area Year covered through SRI coverage Buoyed by the results and through SRI (ha) (ha) response of the farmers the Department (%) of Agriculture impressed upon the 2002-03 9 2,39,670 negligible

Government about the prospects of SRI 2003-04 18 2,42,110 negligible in attaining self-sufficiency in rice. The 2004-05 176 2,38,950 negligible State Government extended 2005-06 352 2,37,150 negligible commendable support to the large scale 2006-07 14,678 2,35,272 6% adoption programme through demonstration in the farmers’ field 2007-08 32,497 2,37,194 14% throughout the length breath of the 2008-09 39,490 2,28,710 17% state. The commendable support 2009-10 59,577 2,30,986 26% extended by the three tier Panchayet 2010-11 76,000 2,45,930 31% (prov) Raj Institution (PRI) system turned the The assistance provided to endeavor of the Department of farmers for adopting SRI method has Agriculture into a people’s movement been tappered down from Rs. 4,000/ in the state, which is now becoming a ha. to Rs. 1,650, while the area mainstream paddy cultivation in the coverage has been increasing state. considerably year after year which is revealed in the table above.

- 18 - Successful SRI Cultivators :

Sri Abulal Sarkar :

Shri Abulal Sarkar (43 yrs.) is a young farmer from West Charakbai village of Bagafa Block under South Tripura district cultivating mostly rice in 1.28 hectares of land. A receptive and technology-savvy farmer, Abulal saw the potential of SRI method of cultivation in the demonstration plots of Agriculture department. In 2002- 03, he was one of five farmers who cultivated Boro rice for the first time in the state with SRI method. He cultivated IR-64 varieties in 25 sqm Sri Abulal Sarkar area as an experiment. He followed all allowed, he used simple mechanical the six principles of SRI as per technical “rotating hoe” that churns up soil. He guidance of the Agriculture gave four weedings before panicle Department. Early transplanting of initiation as recommended; first seedling is one of the important weeding 10 days after transplanting. He principles for the SRI. He used seedling applied compost in addition to chemical of 8-12 days old, when plant has only fertilizer; @10 tons/ha. Seeing for the two small leaves. He followed careful first time unbelievable huge numbers transplanting. He removed seedling of tillers per hill, which varied from 62 from the nursery with the seed, soil and to 75 on an average, he was completely roots carefully and place it in the field convinced about the potentialities of without plunging too deep into soil. It SRI. In the first year itself, Abulal had minimizes trauma in transplanting. stunning success with his first attempt Wide Spacing is another important at growing IR-64. He reaped 8.75 tons principle. He planted single seedling, rice per hectare, while yield of the not in clumps, and in a square pattern conventional system averaged 3-3.2 following 25cm x 25cm. Weeding and tons per hectare. In the very next year aeration is needed to grow healthy both in Kharif and Boro season, he paddy plants and less competition with put his entire land of 1.28 hectares weeds. Because no standing water is under SRI. In the 2006-07 Kharif - 19 - season, Abulal also harvested an excellent crop that yielded 8.12 tons rice per hectare. He used Puja Variety in Kharif. Abulal expected another bumper crop in the 2006-07 boro season. He grew Naveen variety and reaped as high as 9.75 tons/ha. Currently, he is growing mostly MTU 7029 during Kharif and during the Boro season of this year he cultivated 50% of his land through SRI with hybrid variety PHB-71 and remaining 50% land through SRI with HYV Naveen variety. After adopting the SRI method, during the last six years his lowest yield per hectare was 8.12 tons per Sri Hriday Ranjan Debnath hectare and the highest was 9.75 ton/ 2007-08 and received technical training ha of rice. By adopting the new from the Agriculture Sector Officer, and technology package, Abulal has been regular guidance on the field from the able to grow more rice than he needs Village Level Worker of Agriculture and he has become a relatively wealthy Department working in his Gram farmer. Successful boro cropping with Panchayet. He cultivated 0.2 hectare record high yields has brought a degree land following the SRI principles. He of fame to Abulal. transplanted single seedling per hill at a wider spacing and the hills are also Sri Hriday Ranjan Debnath : spaced more widely than usual. Thus, only 5 kg seeds/ha he used instead of Shri Hriday Ranjan Debnath (63 yrs.) about 50 kg/ha in the traditional is a farmer having 0.5 hectare of paddy method of rice cultivation. He land. He heard about SRI first from a transplanted the much younger neighbouring farmer and later on from seedlings (10-12 days old) as compared the local field staff of the Agriculture to 3 to 4 weeks old seedlings in the Department. He was told that SRI is a traditional system He used FYM @ 9 resources saving and labour intensive t/ha, chemical fertilizers N:P:K @ method and well suited for small and 20:10:10 kg per as against the marginal farmers. He adopted SRI recommended dose of N:P:K @ 80:40:40 during the Boro season (summer) in in conventional system. He used bio-

- 20 - fertilizers 4 kg/ ha. He also used hand operated rotary weeder to weed out grasses and churn the soil between the rows. This operation simultaneously incorporates weeds replenishing nutrients in the form of green manure and also aerates the soil. Water requirement in the SRI method was considerably low, since the crop is not kept flooded during the entire crop cycle. Only a minimum of water is kept on the field during the reproductive phase, reducing water requirement by about 50% compared to the traditional method. He obtained 5.2 tons of rice Smt Joya Singha per hectare under SRI method as conducting different farmers training against average yield of 2.8 to 3.2 t/ha programmes, seminars to bring in in conventional system. Now, he is women into cultivation practices that cultivating paddy only with SRI method they too can put in their labour and and used to harvest 45-50% more yield cultivate different crops and than the conventional system. successfully performing other related activities besides men by not merely Smt. Joya Sinha : standing behind them as an onlooker but work with them shoulder to “Women are behind men” – a shoulder. traditional social thinking gets a pounding hammer when we talk to Smt. Jaya Rani Sinha, stands Smt. Jaya Rani Sinha - a simple apart in this, has become an example housewife ,W/o Sri Swapan Sinha of of success, determination and Ragna village under Kadamtala Agri – leadership. She could have easily lived Sub – Division. Ragna a traditionally happily, depending on her husband’s rice growing area with a conservative income who is a school teacher. But social setup and thinking , where she knew that she has to do something, largely women folks are not engaged in she started to think out of the box and cultivation practices. At this juncture started working in the paddy field and Kadamtala Agri Sub – Division made a grew rice single handedly. She adopted conscious effort by organizing / SRI system of rice cultivation in the

- 21 - year 2005 and never looked back ever effort to train the womenfolk and since. Not only she adopted improved engage them into cultivation has cultivation system like SRI but also cumulated into success through advocates it strongly making it the most woman like Smt. Jaya Rani Sinha and popular system of paddy cultivation in thereby bringing rapid changes in Raghna village. family’s economic status.

A few years back in her 1(one) Sri Tapan Sen : hectare area she and her husband used to cultivate paddy in traditional method Shri Tapan Sen (40 yrs) is a and the result was around 2 tons in marginal farmer of Hrishyamukh Aush and 2.5 tons in Aman season. Block, South Tripura District having Now she is getting 4.5 to 5 tons of rice total cultivable land of 0.64 ha. He used per hectare. Now she is thankful to the to grow paddy under rainfed condition God as well as to the personnel from and per hectare productivity of rice was Agriculture Department, that they have as low as 1.5 t/ha. He learnt about SRI shown SRI method of cultivation. for the first time during a training programme conducted by the Sub- She also attended many training divisional Agriculture Officer of the programmes at Sub-Divisional level, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of District Level as well as State level. Her Tripura in 2002. He adopted SRI main motivation was to increase the method of cultivation during Boro income which she could generate from (summer) 2003 season. He was a little this application. Now her income level bit shaky at the beginning about the has just become doubled and she is prospect of SRI and put only 0.16 ha quite happy about it. land under SRI method. Later on, he put his entire area (0.64 ha) under SRI. Once she was asked that “Will He received a very good yield from his you stop SRI method of paddy land and he has been continuing SRI cultivation?”, Her answer was simple method in both the seasons of a and instantaneous “Laxmi ke ki keou ghor theke ber kore dey?”(Dose anybody year.The yield data of nine consecutive drive Laxmi Goddess away from years, as obtained by him under SRI home?”). After few years of successful method reveals that he has been getting Paddy cultivation, this winter she is more yield under SRI from a level of cultivating Wheat – a rarely grown field 29% in Aush with short duration crop in that area and she is very much variety to 114% in Aman than that of positive about the outcome. Tireless the conventional method. - 22 - Md. Abdul Gafar :

Md. Abdul Gafar (49 yrs.), from Halahali, Kamalpur, Dhalai district has 4 hectares of land and has been cultivating Paddy mainly in two seasons – little more 1 hectare in Aush and entire 4 hectares in Aman season. Earlier he used to grow Paddy in conventional method. His average yield was 2.3 tons/ha. Md. Gafar is now cultivating his entire land through SRI method only. He is now getting more than 3.3 tons/ha rice on an average, thus he received 43% more yield in SRI than the conventional system. He Md. Abdul Gafar attended training programme on SRI organized by the Agriculture Karanajit Choudhury : Department during 2005 – 06 at Baralutma under Kamalpur Agri Karanajit Choudhury, fromwest Subdivision. Agriculture Sector Officer Noagaon, Jirania, West Tripura District and Village Level Worker of his area tried SRI in 2.2 ha. He had done have also inspired him to take up SRI transplantation in a week with the help method of cultivation. According to of 14 labourers. He heard about SRI him, it requires less labour and is less first through a panchayat meeting and expensive as compared to conventional had received training from the method. Finally it gives good yield. He Department of Agriculture. He also saw said cultivation through SRI is very the demonstration plot. To him SRI helpful to him. It is because the system would increase yield and reduce cost gives easy to work for sowing, of cultivation. His average productivity transplanting, weeding etc. Moreover, of rice was 3 to 3.3 t/ha., and he it gives better yield, better return than expected SRI yields to be closer to 4.8 the conventional method. to 5 t/ha.

- 23 - Production of HYV certified seeds : certified seed replacement up to 33% in Paddy, 50% in Pulses and Oilseeds. Sincere efforts have been made Agriculture Department undertook to attain self-sufficiency in foodgrains different activities as a part of the seed production for which a Perspective Plan certification process in the state like was launched in 2000-01. Considering establishment of State Seed seed as one of the most vital Certification Agency, notifying State components in agriculture, a Seed Testing Laboratory, strengthening systematic seed production programme infrastructure support relating to seed of High Yielding Varieties of rice, storage, seed processing etc. oilseeds and pulses was undertaken in this state. The present seed Establishment of Tripura Seed requirement of rice is about 2500 MT. Certification Agency: Self–sufficiency in certified seed production of paddy and mustard has The State was fully dependent on been achieved. outside sources for certified seeds. Agriculture Department had been Production of certified seeds of pursuing for reducing dependence on Pulses, Groundnut, Jute and Mesta outside states for certified seeds. State has been undertaken through the Government decided to produce Registered Seed Growers under the certified HYV seeds in the state itself technical guidance and supervision of and in the first phase, production of Tripura Seed Certification Agency. certified Paddy seeds was undertaken Major thrusts have been given on HYV through the Registered Seed Growers

- 24 - and in Government Farms under the Oilseeds have been targeted at 50%. technical guidance of West Bengal State Before Perspective Plan the SRR for Seed Certification Agency w.e.f. Rabi Paddy was as low as 2.8% for Paddy, 1999-2000. After gaining experience in 18% for Pulses and 22% for Oilseeds. two years, Tripura State Seed Certification Agency was established Seed Village Programme: and notified on 04-03-2002. From The concept of Seed Village Kharif 2002, the Certification Programme was adopted to produce programme was taken up by the required quantity of certified HYV seeds Tripura State Seed Certification Agency in the state. Registered Seed Growers in the state. selected for production of certified

Production of HYV Certified Seeds: seeds in the identified Seed Village were imparted training by the experts of Production of HYV certified State Department of Agriculture. Paddy seed has been increased Interaction camps with the Registered considerably from 28 tons in 1999- Seed Growers were also held as per 2000 to 4440 in 2009-10. Similarly, guideline of the Scheme. Besides, “on- production of certified Pulses seeds was farm training” to each Registered Seed increased from 3.5 tons in 2006-07 to Grower was given during each cropping 17.8 tons in 2009-10. Production of season. mustard seed has been increased from 8.63 tons in 2006-07 to 20 tons in A guideline for selection of Seed 2009-10 against the state’s Village was circulated to all concerned requirement of 10 tons. field functionaries of the Department. Necessary Breeder/Foundation Seeds Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) : were supplied to Registered Seed Growers through multiplication in the An optimum level of SRR of 33% Departmental Seed Farms under direct per annum for Paddy has been achieved supervision of Seed Certification and maintained since 2006-07 in the Agency of the State. state and now to ensure uniform adoption across the farm households, Seed Village Programme a planned intervention for identifying implemented in the identified 17 farmers not replacing the seed in every Agricultural Sub-Divisions. Each Agri. village is mandated under the Revised Sub-Division selected 3 Gram Perspective Plan up to 2011-12. Panchayets to produce certified HYV Similarly, the SRR for Pulses and seeds @ minimum 30 hectare area per

- 25 - Gram Panchayet. Number of Godowns Year constructed

Buy-back arrangement of Certified 2005-06 20 seeds: 2006-07 15

2007-08 14 There has been a buy-back 2008-09 12 arrangement of HYV certified seeds Total 61 from the Registered Seed Growers by Agriculture Department after the seeds are processed and tested for utilizing Quality control arrangement of seeds in the next season. Registered Growers Seed Testing Laboratory: are given bonus for the quantity of the seeds procured in addition to the cost There is one Seed Testing of seeds. Laboratory in the state located at State Agriculture Research Station, Seed Storage: Arundhutinagar. The laboratory was It was experienced that the not notified till February, 2002. In view quality of seeds gets deteriorated in the of producing quality seeds, the farmers’ house due to poor seed storage Government has notified “State Seed infrastructure available with them. As Testing Laboratory” on 20-03-2002 as a result, farmers were not able to per provision of the Seeds Act, 1966 dispose off their stock as seed. To resulting which, the State could start overcome this problem, State production of quality seeds (both “F” Government supplied seed storage bin and “C” class) since 2002-03 utilizing of different sizes ranging from 250 kg/ its own infrastructure and the 500 kg/750 kg capacity at subsidy to laboratory is also playing key role in the seed growers. support of opening a new dimension in commercial seed sector. There was no suitable seed godown in our State. As such it was Seed Processing Plants : very much difficult to maintain the quality of the seed during storage Seed processing is an important period. Seed storage infrastructure of segment of Seed Certification which 50 MT to 100 M.T capacities in the helps in overall up grading of the seed selected seed villages have been created quality. Seed processing refers to with government support for cleaning, drying, grading, treating and maintaining the quality of the seeds other operation which will improve the during storage period. quality of the seeds. There is one Seed

- 26 - Processing Plant with Corporation on 04/09/2006 for dehumidified storage facilities marketing of surplus seeds to other established at Arundhutinagar, states. Year-wise position of certified Agartala in 2001 with capacity of 1 ton Paddy and Mustard Seeds marketed per hour. Five new Seed Processing through NSC is shown below :

Plants would be coming up shortly in Certified Certified Mustard different locations mentioned below. Year Paddy seeds seeds(Qntls) (Qntls) Baikhora (South Tripura) :1 ton/hr 2006-07 349.80 -

Udaipur (South Tripura) : 0.5 ton/hr 2007-08 151.20 55.30 2008-09 1,343.70 75.00 Kalyanpur (West Tripura) : 0.5 ton/hr 2009-10 1,063.20 100.00 Avanga (Dhalai) : 0.5 ton/hr. 2010-11 - 100.20 Total 2,907.90 330.50 Kumarghat (North Tripura): 0.5 ton/hr.

Marketing of Certified Seeds through In Dudhpatil in E Nuagaon, Jirania NSC : block village, breeder seeds of the Satabdi variety were being used and Concerted efforts have been farmers expressed satisfaction with made during past few years to make SRI. Forty-four farmers had agreed to the state not only self sufficient but also take up SRI in the village. They a surplus producer of quality HYV mentioned the existence of an informal certified seeds. State Government group of farmers already involved in signed a MoU with the National Seed managing water through lift irrigation - 27 - scheme, support from the department, provides the best insurance against the and the visit to the demonstration plot. weather-induced fluctuations in total Dinesh Debnath was the first farmer food production. to take up SRI in 2005. There was also a government incentive for SRI that Formerly, least importance was amounted to a total of Rs. 4,500 per given to Irrigation and only 4,383 ha of ha. Of this, most was in kind and Rs. cultivable land were brought under 500 in cash, of which Rs. 400 was for assured irrigation, though agriculture procuring organic matter for is the mainstay of our economy. So, to composting and Rs. 100 for nursery put the economy of the state on strong management. The department supplied foundation there is obvious necessity azotobacter and recommended doses of for extending the irrigation facility upto fertilizers and pesticides, as required. the maximum possible extent. The discussions later revealed that There was a paradigm shift in democratic decentralization through irrigation policy after April, 1998. It is the Panchayati Raj system was an amply clear from the fact that whatever important factor in the success of SRI. has been accomplished after that These officials were the best motivators juncture is far more than what was for the farmers. attained before that period since

Development of irrigation : inception of irrigation in this state. For achieving the target of “Self Sufficiency Earliest civilizations were in Food” by the year 2010 and developed along major rivers, which appreciating the importance of supplied water for irrigation. Irrigation irrigation towards that objective, Govt. has been practiced throughout the of Tripura had constituted a task force world since those early days of for Irrigation and Drinking Water. A civilization. Increased demands for food Perspective Plan has also been accompanying population growth have prepared in the year 2000, where the created demand for irrigation schemes. goal was fixed to bring the entire The green revolution in our country assessed total irrigable area of 1,17,000 relied heavily on water resource ha under assured irrigation within that development and irrigation technology. period.

Water; being a limited resource, Water Resources wing of Public its efficient use is basic to survival of Works Department of Tripura is mainly ever-increasing population. Scientific responsible for the task of irrigation management of irrigation water development & management as well as - 28 - optimal utilization of surface and as such the target during the underground water as a resource in Perspective Plan period was fixed to Tripura. Other departments like Rural bring 64803 ha (1,17,000-52,197) Development Department, Agriculture under assured irrigation. Department and TTAADC have also The present position of irrigation engaged them in irrigation sector to potential created during the period of achieve this desired objective. Perspective Plan (upto 2009-10) is given Presently, Forest Department has also below : % started the work of extending irrigation Irrigation facilities. Potential Potential Target created created Year (Ha) (cumulative) against While preparing the perspective (ha) Net plan, the target was to bring the entire cropped Area assessed irrigable area of 1,17,000 ha Up to 1999-00 0 52197 18% within the coverage of assured 2000-2001 61747 59951 21% irrigation by 2010. It was also decided 2001-2002 69702 67278 24% that Irrigation extension programme in 2002-2003 77002 72284 26% Tripura would be jointly implemented 2003-2004 84057 77722 28% by Public Works Department (Water 2004-2005 90527 82005 29% Resources Wing), Agriculture 2005-2006 96452 86793 31%` Department, Rural Development Department and TTAADC. The area 2006-2007 102102 90853 36% brought under irrigation before the 2007-2008 107902 93559 37% implementation of Perspective plan i,e 2008-2009 113603 98390 38% upto 31-03-2000 was 52197 ha. and 2009-2010 117000 104995 41%

- 29 - Floriculture - A blooming enterprise: Sl. Name of the Area Production No Flower (in Ha) (Lac nos.)

There has been significant 1 Marigold 9.00 325.58 progress in flower cultivation in the 2 French Marigold 2.00 80.00 state after launching of central sector 3 Cherri 2.00 80.00 Technology Mission scheme, especially 4 Rose 1.00 0.08 amongst the unemployed youth. Many 5 Gladiolus 2.00 0.60 exotic flowers like Anthurium, Orchids 6 Tuberose 2.00 2.25 (Dendrobium), Gerbera and Lilium 7 Gerbera 0.20 0.08 have got introduced in sub-divisions 8 Anthorium 1.00 0.51 adjoining the state capital, Agartala 9 Orchids 0.50 1.65 whose areas have been increasing ev- 10 Annuals 0.30 0.03 ery year reflecting easy availability of Total 20.00 490.77 market within and outside the state. perennial nature in an around of the Commercial cultivation of other open houses for offering to Puja & other oc- field flowers like, Tube rose, Gladiolus casions. and Marigold have also got a special fillip after receiving assistances from The journey of Flower cultivation Technology Mission Scheme. Till 2009- for economical benefit is of very recent 10 about 108 ha areas, including 4.6 past. It was in the year 2001, Horticul- ha protected and 103.40 ha open field ture Technology Mission programme cultivation - have been brought under just been launched in the State. Di- floriculture. rectorate of Horticulture & Soil Con-

However, there exists necessity servation considered some of the vil- of further refinement in agro techniques lages in an around Agartala City for cultivation of Anthurium for bring- namely East Laxmibill under ing desired colour and gloss, Bishalgarh Sub Division, Dukli, Dendrobium for increasing flowering Charipara, Gajaria where Merri Gold, period and Lilium for production of Rose, Cheri Gold, Cellocia etc. flowers cormlets. Local ICAR centre can take taken for cultivation in very small scale. the responsibility of making necessary This was the first approach for technical refinements and advisory. commercial cultivation of flower in the Flower cultivation in the State State. The pioneer Farmers took the has been confined within homestead challenge and produced good, yield of area. People by virtue of their cultural the flower which clicked a good inspi- / ritual habit used to grow flower of ration in their mind. - 30 - Then during 2004-05 with the Farmers earning source was based on help of Horticulture Technology Mission vegetable cultivation before starting of more farmers taken up cultivation of the Floriculture activity. Now the veg- Flower of Merri-gold, Tube-rose, etable cultivation has been gradually Gladiolous in other adjacent areas. replaced by flower cultivation. Year 2006-07 was the milestone of Approximately 225 nos farmers adopting commercial cultivation of An- are involved in flower cultivation in- thurium, Orchid & Gerbera in the cluding women farmers. Most encour- farmers field specifically in East Laxmi aging fact is that in the shape of flower bill, Gajaria, Charipara & Dukli areas. the self help group have found out Gradually this approach has been ex- meaningful profession to sustain the tended in some other places of West group activities. There are 15 nos. Tripura District also in Udaipur Sub- SHGs in the village involved in flower division with huge production of flow- production and confederation of these ers that are being marketed in the lo- SHGs has taken up marketing activi- cal & outside market also. It has been ties. Now It is fact that the returns of observed that East Laxmibill is coming the individual farmers has been in- up most promisingly out of the total creased 3 times more than the return areas where Floriculture activity is go- they used to get doing vegetable culti- ing on. Farmers are more concentrat- vation. ing on cultivation of Orchid, Gerbera & Anthurium in commercial scale. The area and production of dif- ferent cut flowers loose flowers had The village East Laxmibill is 25 grown to the highest since inception of KM away from Agartala. Total area flower cultivation at Laxmibill. An ac- under cultivation is 240 ha. Out of this count may be evident of their success 20 ha area is under Flower cultivation. in the cultivation & production areas. - 31 - The confederation has opened a marketed in the local market. Farmers flower stall at Agartala market where are encouraged and formed a produce of the farmers are collected cooperative for easy marketing of the and sold against appropriate price. The produces. After every 15 days flowers confederation is participating in from all the units are collected by the different fairs/Mela being organized by agency through cooperative and sold the State Govt. In recent Saras Mela, in the market. the confederation sold flowers of It has been assessed that roughly gladiolous, tuberose, marri gold, anthurium, gerbera etc. for Rs. 1.50 Rs. 2500/- is the income from each lakh. Besides, produces are being units. The areas where the units were marketed in outside State directly or established was previously kept fallow. through agencies. As a result, the Farmers are very much motivated to growth of floriculture has been adopt cultivation of flower in that area maintaining steady upwards trends in other sector of floriculture and now a substantial production of cut Staggering of Pineapple – new hope flowers, loose flowers are available for to the producer. catering the demand of the State and also slowly opening up the scope of Pineapple a traditional fruit of exporting to other State and foreign Tripura grows abundantly in slopes countries. with least care and management. Due to its’ ability to survive in unfavourable Raghunathpur is a village 2 KM environment, it gives out a reasonable away from Bishalgarh under West production every year. The productivity Tripura District is another promising of pineapple in the state is around 19.2 village where the floriculture activities t/h, which is above the national average are taken. Seeing the successes of of 14.7 t/h (Source NHB). The Laxmibill village farmers of pineapple cultivated in the state as Raghunathpur being motivated come rainfed and in general no chemical to take up flower cultivation in fertilizers or pesticides are used, that commercial scale. Under Horticulture makes the produce as organic by Technology Mission 2007-08 17nos. default. It is estimated that 1.06 lakh units (100 sqm. Area) for cultivation of ton pineapple is harvested every year Orchid in protected condition were from an approximate area 5.5 thousand given to the farmers of that area. ha. Traditionally Kew variety of All the units are producing good pineapple is grown in Dhalai and North nos. of orchid flower which are being Tripura district where Queen variety in

- 32 - South Tripura and West Tripura district pineapple is grown traditionally, the predominantly. The five RD Blocks farmers are yet to take commercial and namely Kumarghat of North Tripura, scientific approach to increase the Manu of Dhalai, Melagharh of West production as well as the productivity. Tripura and Kakraban and Matabari of Further all the plants of a population South Tripura districts accounts for of a plot do not come to flower in a more than 70% of pineapple area of the particular time of a year (Not more than state. 40% of a population comes to flower in a year). Since the crop is seasonal and the production is more than the To avoid such problems efforts seasonal requirement for that were taken to bring the plant particular period of year, there is a population to flower in staggered way market glut being experienced every so as to have the fruit available for at year. This phenomenon causes least 8 month in a year. reduction in market price results in loss to the farmers.  By application of growth regulator. This has been aggravated due to non existence of small scale processing  By planting different sized unit in the state. Further the processing planting materials. units established by the NERAMAC and TSIC can’t run for the whole year for  By planting at different time of want of fruits in the off seasons. Though year.

- 33 - Application of Growth Regulator:- Initially this activity was started in five selected RD Blocks (5 h in each) Studies were undertaken at HRC comprising which AEZ was formed to find out efficacy as well as different during the year 2006-07. The result concentration of various growth was encouraging and the target was regulators in inducing flowering. It was raised significantly in the subsequent found that when Ethereal was applied years. at 25 ppm (6.25 ml of commercial grade in 100 lit water) with 2% urea and The farmers were reluctant at the 0.04% Sodium carbonate induces initial stage to adopt this technology, flower within 45 days of application but later they participated in the invariably when applied at 50 ml / programme with enthusiasm. Now plant in the heart of the plant preferably pineapple is available as fresh even in in the afternoon at more than 35 leaf the month of Oct-Nov (festival season) even in Agartala market. stage. Care is to be taken while application that the “D” leaf average Many of farmers who had opted weight should be more than 90 gm and for rubber plantation are now growing applied in a rain free day which is to pineapple by adopting this technology. be repeated if rain occurred within 36 One such farmer is Sri Harikumar hour. Harvest can be made after 5 Jamatia of Jumerdhepa, under month on application of the chemical. Melaghar sub-division, who was about to destroy his plantation for non This method was taken to the viability went to adopt staggering farmers’ field as the result was method to earn a significant amount significant enough in comparison to by production in off-season. Another other methods with the following tribal woman of Padmabil Block Smt advantages - Kohila Debbarma is enthusiastic about this method on earning about Rs  Reduction in cost of cultivation 50,000/- from an area of 1 h during by restricting the vegetative stage. off-season and will go on adopting in  Uniformity in harvest. future, she commented. Though initial  Assured yield. success has been achieved but further increase in productivity could be made  Maximum price to the growers possible by adoption of high density through off season crop. planting, selection of proper planting  Regular supply of the fruits to the materials, curing of planting materials, canners throughout the year. staggered planting, fertilization, - 34 - removal of unwanted suckers of the ha besides human resource slips, proper earthing up etc. development under Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana during the year 2010-11 Such experiments were also with an outlay of 3.24 crore rupees, the conducted at the ICAR Research results of which will be visible in new Complex, Lembucherra concluded that future. “Staggered planting & followed by chemical application (Ethrel) at True Potato Seed (TPS) - A revolution attainment of physiological maturity of in Potato cultivation : plant was observed as best method for year round production of pineapple in Tripura due to its geographical Tripura. However, integration of isolation was suffering from availability genotype diversity, different grade of of potato seed tuber at reasonable price planting materials and staggered during the late eighties. No state in planting followed by chemical Eastern India was producing certified application (Ethrel) will be more seed tuber because of unfavourable sustainable technology for year round agro-climatic condition. As a result the production (Off season) of pineapple”. state had to remain dependent upon Accordingly, for further North Indian seed tuber producing development the state department of states by spending a huge amount in Agriculture has taken up an ambitious transportation, thus making the quality programme for new area expansion in seed tuber available at higher price to 500 ha, rejuvenation in 500 ha, a limited number of farmers making the chemical induction of flowering in 1000 potato production a costly venture. - 35 - Horticulture Research Complex in establishing the required Nagicherra under the State Department infrastructure for commercial of Agriculture has taken up studies in production of Hybrid True Potato Seed collaboration with International Potato in the state. Thereafter there was no Centre (C.I.P.), South West and Central looking back. During the period from Asia Region, New Delhi to find out 1995-96 to 2009-10, it is estimated that cheap and alternative way in solving more than 2.8 ton Hybrid True Potato the issue particularly for the marginal Seed was produced at Horticulture farmers of the state. Research Complex, Nagicherra worth more than 4.628 crore rupees, a part Initially, a large number of True of the produce was exported to other Potato Seed families were evaluated at states as well as abroad. This has not Horticulture Research Complex for only saved huge amount of public ware potato as well as seedling tuber money but also helped the marginal production, which was presented in farmers of the state to realise a different regional workshops. On being significant increase in production, thus encouraged from the results a sincere making the state as possessing the thought was put into for standardization of commercial highest yield (t/h) in the whole NE production of True Potato Seed in India, which is nearer to the national Tripura. A large number of trials were average. laid into and the method was Dissemination of the technology :- standardized at Horticulture Research The extension machinery of the state Complex itself. North Eastern Council department of Agriculture was engaged came forward to extend financial help - 36 - Year wise distribution of hybrid TPS Distribution (Kg.) Productiion YEAR Other (kg.) Tripura N.E. States Export Total Remarks States 1995-1996 320.805 29.567 29.743 28.105 10 97.415 1996-1997 361.799 57.02 14.992 5.776 77.788 1997-1998 319.895 304.78 12.046 35.006 351.832 1998-1999 330 335.895 27.48 0.54 363.915 1999-2000 104.04 152.655 13.045 1.4 14.002 181.102 2000-2001 114 89.809 3.19 1.615 94.614 2001-2002 109 78.685 24.76 3.56 20 127.005 South Korea 2002-2003 91.905 121.685 1.82 4.1 127.605 2003-2004 138 160.79 3 8.5 2 174.29 Mexico 2004-2005 278.01 158.019 2.4 5.791 166.21 2005-2006 100.65 206.621 10 0.05 216.671 2006-2007 70.2 162.136 16.96 1.365 180.461 2007-2008 91 159.95 22.14 2.045 184.135 2008-2009 178 165.87 7.1 3.05 176.02 2009-2010 85.15 164.61 11.15 3.05 178.81 Production 2010-2011 200 72.795 8.3 2.15 83.245 expected TOTAL 2892.454 2420.887 208.126 106.103 46.002 2781.118 Value in Crore 4.628 3.873 0.333 0.17 0.074 4.45 Rs to take the technology from research shown that more & more farmers are complex to the farmers’ field like other opting out for the TPS technology, technologies and an effort was taken though majority of them had the to educate the farmers as well as the opinion that the traditionally grown field functionaries. Initial setbacks were potatoes are tastier. But, exploitation encountered for non adoption of the of hybrid vigour in realisation of yield, technology by the farmers, and advantage of resistance to diseases / accordingly on receipt of feedback the pests and above all the economy agronomic practices were simplified / modified to make it more users’ friendly. Non-believers were made to believe by field demonstrations. These have made the technology sustain twenty two years long as on date. A sample survey conducted on more than two hundred potato growers have - 37 - attracted them to adopt this technology. to fellow farmers (horizontal spreading). Benefits of using TPS :- Produce of 1 ha. will cover more  100 g is sufficient to cover 1h than 21 ha. in the following year. area instead of planting 2 - 2.5 t of Exploitation of hybrid vigour is potato seed tuber per h. possible, as clonally propagated.  Being hybrid capable of giving Can be produced in short growing more production. season, and can produce more in  Absolutely disease-free seed shorter growing period. materials. Technology has been modified /  No cold storage facilities are altered for our agro-climatic required for storing TPS. condition.

 Practically no cost is involved for Production of potato from the true transporting TPS unlike seed tuber. seed is cumbersome, but the benefit  Comparatively more resistance of the genetic resources is possible to pest & diseases. through use of seedling tuber.

 Net profit is more as cost of No need to cut the tubers prior to cultivation is less and at the same planting, reduces chance of infection time the yield is more. of tubers.

 The seed tuber being utilised  Can also be taken up, where could be otherwise used for normal seed tuber production is not consumption. possible.

 Most suited in areas, where Salient feature & benefits which can farmers have marginal and small be realised through use of seedling holding. tuber:-  A quantity of 1.25kg TPS is Tubers of < 15g produced from required for production of seedling TPS, is used as seed material for tuber in 1h area which will produce production of ware crop 20-25 t, which will cover 35-40 h  Requirement of propagating area for ware potato production. material per h. is only one third.

Farmers can meet up own demand as well as sell the surplus produce

- 38 - Success Stories : staff and he had been advised to use his land for cultivation of mixed plan- Mixed Plantation : tation of banana, pineapple & mango.

Sri Haradhan Das, who now be- In the year 2008-09, he was given come a successful farmers of benefit for cultivation of banana, pine- Chotosurma village under Salema Agri apple & mango under Horti. Tech. Mis- Sub-Division, Dhalai Tripura, suffered sion programme. With the assistance a lot even couple of years back for two of HTM as per provision , he raised a square meal. Even though he had 1 ha. high density mixed horti. garden hav- of undulating sloppy land which re- ing plant population of 4800 nos with main uncultivated due to ignorance of technology know-how, eventually locally procured banana (varieties sabri turned to be a hired agri labourer. & champa), 25,000 pineapple suckers (variety kew) & about 300 nos of mango Under such circumstances, he graft (var. amrapally). first came in contact with the sub divi- sion level agricultural personnel and Satisfied with his honest & sin- sought advice for any scope for utiliz- cere approach, a shallow tube well ing his unproductive tilla land. A joint under assistance from HTM also been visit was then organized along with the awarded to him to irrigate the planta- local panchayet by the departmental tion especially mango graft during the

- 39 - dry spell of winter months. As a reward rises to Rs. 9000/- per month from a of hard work and his dedication, the meager Rs. 2500/- and for this he entire plantation survived and now thanks State Agriculture Department within 2 years of planting, the banana for creating water source by providing plantation has started fruiting. Accord- assistance under HTM. ing to him, he will get a steady return from banana & pineapple from the next Vermi-Compost Unit : season and will get additional income Vermi-compost a cheaply avail- through supplying suckers from his able organic manure used mostly in garden. On the other hand the mango plantation will also attain fruiting stage vegetable cultivation now become within next two-three years and Sri Das popular throughout the state as an is now confident enough for earning 1.5 important component of Organic Farm- to 2 lack per annum from next year ing and as an alternative to inorganic onwards. Life of Sri Haradhan Das is fertilizer. With the assistance from HTM now changed altogether and for his many farmers/SHGs are now engaged economic upliftment he gives credit to in its production. Notable amongst Agril. Deptt. for providing financial as- them, Sri Radharaman Sinha, sistance through HTM. Kirtantali, Kailasahar has been pro- vided with one such unit of Shallow Tube well : vermicompost during 2008-09 under HTM scheme.Within this short span of Development of water source time, Sri Sinha has become popular through creation of shallow tubewell throughout the district and is now sell- changed the living standard to a great ing 15-20 MT compost @ Rs.4/- to 5/ extent of Sri Kalipada Das of - per Kg to other farmers. In addition Bamancherra village under Dhalai Dis- to compost, he is now engaged in pro- trict. Due to want of assured irrigation duction of worms and is getting extra previously he can grow only few veg- etable during rainy season in his 1 ha income from selling the worms to other flat tilla land. Then in 2008-09, a per- interesting farmers. manent water source through installa- Pineapple Plantation :Subhash tion of a shallow tube-well was created Halam, a tribal youth of Unokoti GP, under HTM scheme in his plot by the North Tripura brought 5 ha upland Department. Mr. Das is now growing under pineapple cultivation with assis- wide range of vegetables viz. Potato, tance from HTM. During 2008-09, he Brinjal, Ridge Gourd, Tomato, Chilli etc approached to the departmental officer all around the year. His income now

- 40 - for suggesting means for utilizing his vacant upland.

Department responded positively and suggested to develop pineapple garden across the slope against the traditional system of planting along the slope for sustainability of the project. Requisite technical guidance was provided and financial assistance was rendered from HTM as per norms. His hard work and the active participation of the depart- mental officials materialized the project and today Mr. Halam is the proud owner of 5 ha. of pineapple plantation which will come to fruiting from the next year. Inspired from his success others of the locality also come forward to set up plantations through HTM as- sistance.

- 41 - Success story of Pig cum Fish Culture :

Sri Subendra Debbarma -

He hails from a small hamlet of Champlai, East Laxmipur ADC Village under Mungiakami R.D. Block , West Tripura living entirely on forests, paddy cultivation, rearing of Sri Subendra Debbarma domestic animals, daily laborers, etc. time in pisciculture .He could hardly as major occupational activities for believe the production of fish from his livelihood. Fish culture was his own tank at the end of the year traditionally practised in the 2(two) though his harvest was not up to the nos. water bodies (tank / pond mark or satisfaction during’ 2008- measuring = 0.16 ha & 0.08 ha) 09 where he could produced only available to him and never paid 515 kg in 0.24 ha water bodies importance nor thought of such showing the productivity of 2145 potential resource for commercial fish kg / ha / annum including 18 culture. But soon after the (eighteen) nos. pig & piglets owned declaration of East Laxmipur Model by him at the end of the year. Aqua Village’ 2008-09, his water bodies was selected for the A promising farmer by nature, integrated Pig-cum-Fish Culture and took immense interest and active he was well imparted with scientific participation in advance in the pisciculture in various training coming year with well prepared plan. programmes. His interest soon grew He first sold the bigger size male up rapidly and finally devoted full pigs for meat & piglets, from which he got handsome amount and bought sufficient fishery inputs as per requirement including segregated yearling size of fishes and later stocked them in his tank . Proper care with scheduled scientific method were followed by him. Finally, during the harvesting period he proved himself as well to others, that he deserved to be one of the best

- 42 - progressive fish farmers in his Sri Sen is now maintaining 24 Nos. locality during’ 2009-10. He produced adult Jersey cows out of which 14 are 815 kg fish from 0.24 ha/ with a in lactation and are producing 91 ltrs productivity of 3396 kg / ha / annum milk per day. This is the outcome of . Today, he introduces himself as a mini-dairy loan, from SBI, Dukli branch proud Fish Farmer & is well known during the year 2007-08. Sri Sen is also as one of the progressive fish farmers supplying milk to the Milk Co-Opera- of the locality. tive Society Ltd, Agartala regularly and also cultivating 7 kanis of improved A success story on composite Ani- green fodder like Signal, Congo Signal, mal Husbandry farming : Hybrid Napier, Stylo, Tapioca and Subabul trees. Also he has taken at- In Dukli R.D. Block a place tempt for regular cultivation of sea- namely Mahashkhala GP (5 Km. away sonal fodder like Cowpea, Maize, Oat from Agartala central) have become (mainly during winter) , etc. virtually very much familiar for last two years. The owner of the farm Sri Sri Sen is being assisted all along Prasanta Sen, his dedicated approach by the AD(BL) Bishalgarh with all his towards composite animal husbandry technical experts. The produced cow farming along with fodder development dung are being utilized in fodder cul- are now known to everybody. tivation and rest are utilized in his

- 43 - seasonal kitchen gardens. However, Sri This year he produced 135kgs Sen is likely to start a vermi compost Signal seeds and sold these to the De- project and a Gobar Gas plant shortly. partment by Rs. 20,250/- under Buy Back Assurance scheme of Fodder Seed It is necessary to mention here Production . Every day he is getting that Sri Sen has started the venture of cash return of about Rs. 2,000/- from rearing Black Bengal goats & cross milk yield, out of which cost of animal bred pigs as well. Proper attention are feeding is very less and his profit in- also adhered to bring these enterprises cluding all sources of farm activities into commercial level. even maintaining wages of 4 Nos. un- employed youth is nearly about Rs. Sri Sen has also been declared 30,000/- per month. by the AD(BL), Bishalgarh as registered producer of fodder seeds on behalf of His venture towards success in the block. Keeping ahead above en- composite farming 4 Nos of unem- thusiasm, the owner Sri Sen has ployed youth have been employed from started production of good quality Jer- local area . The Department of ARD is sey heifers with the technical help of in commitment to continue all possible the Department for selling it to the in- assistance for further success in Ani- terested ARD farmers. mal Husbandry farming.

- 44 - - 45 -