BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 20th August 2025: Tripura has achieved a new milestone in agriculture with the central government authorizing the state to certify paddy seeds for neighboring Mizoram and Manipur. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced the decision on Tuesday while unveiling a statue of renowned agricultural scientist Dr. M. S. Swaminathan at the State Agriculture Research Station, AD Nagar.
Addressing the gathering, Nath said certification from Tripura’s Agriculture Department would ensure the authenticity and quality of paddy seeds supplied to the two states. “If Tripura certifies the paddy of Manipur and Mizoram, then their paddy will be truly certified,” he stated.
Expressing gratitude to the Research Centre for honoring Dr. Swaminathan, Nath recalled his contribution in making India self-sufficient in food grain production. “If agriculture fails, nothing else can progress. Without a strong agricultural budget, no other budget can succeed,” he emphasized.
The Minister also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of boosting edible oil production, noting that while India is self-reliant in fish and milk, edible oil still remains a major import. He urged farmers to adopt integrated cultivation and modern farming practices to strengthen the sector further.
Nath pointed out that India today exports fish, eggs, rice, milk, sugar, and spices, and credited the nation’s farmers for placing India second in global paddy production. He urged farmers to remain connected with the state’s two research centres at AD Nagar and Nagicherra to take forward modern agricultural techniques.Sharing state-level progress, the Minister informed that 31 out of Tripura’s 58 blocks have now attained self-sufficiency in food grain cultivation, with Chandipur RD Block being the latest to join the list. “Our goal is to make every district and sub-division of Tripura self-reliant in agriculture and allied sectors,” he added.
