By TC News Desk
Agartala, 23rd July 2025: In a major step towards promoting sustainable agriculture and rural self-reliance, the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) project under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) was formally launched in Champamura village, Bishalgarh. The initiative, part of the Bishalgarh Agriculture Sector aims to integrate natural resource conservation with diversified agricultural practices across rainfed areas.
The RAD project adopts a cluster-based approach covering 100 hectares or more in and around Champamura with a focus on promoting natural farming, crop diversification, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and afforestation. These components will be linked to agro-based income generation and value addition activities tailored to the region’s agro-climatic conditions.
Deputy Director of Agriculture Bimal Das said, “We have conducted detailed soil health card analysis and mapping in the RAD cluster areas to ensure appropriate interventions. A minimum of 25% of the farming land will be brought under on-farm water management.”
The project also includes the creation of common property assets such as grain banks, biomass feed banks, and group marketing platforms. Successful strategies from ICAR’s contingency plan for rainfed farming will also be incorporated in future planning.
As a key component of RAD’s first phase, 25 poor and marginal farmers were provided goats at a distribution event in Champamura. Each goat cost Rs 25,000 and goat fodder Rs 5,000 totaling Rs 7,50,000 in financial support for the initiative.
Local MLA Antara Deb Sarkar, Sepahijala Zilla Parishad’s Sabhadipati Supriya Das Datta and other dignitaries attended the ceremony. “Goat rearing will open up new avenues for rural economic self-reliance,” said Chairperson of Bishalgarh Panchayat Samiti Atasi Das.
Technical and veterinary support will continue to be provided by the Agriculture and Animal Resources Departments.
