BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 7th July 2024: In a bid to enhance mango cultivation in Tripura, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced on Sunday the creation of a solar-based mini cold storage and the installation of solar water pumps on 1.98 acres of land in the Gandatwisa sub-division of Dhalai District exclusively for mango cultivators.
Speaking at the Mango Festival inauguration at Narikel Kunja in Gandatwisa, the Minister expressed that attending the festival felt akin to being in South Asia. “Thanks to the efforts of progressive farmers, this achievement was possible. Various mango varieties are showcased at this festival. Before 2018, Tripura was relatively unknown. The previous MP never raised any issues in the Centre. But now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is speaking about our traditional attire, Risha. Our Queen Pineapple, Kew Pineapple, and Ginger are now famous worldwide. The demand for ginger and turmeric is high. Farmers will cultivate, and our government is working to ensure they get a good price for their produce,” stated the Minister.
He further noted that the mango festival in Gandatwisa will boost tourism in the state. “Our main aim is ‘Ek Tripura, Ek Parivaar, and Ek Vhabisyat.’ We work for development without considering political affiliations. We are very positive about food grains. In paddy, South Tripura, Sepahijala, and Gomati are self-sufficient, while Dhalai is self-sufficient in food grains. We have decided to set up a solar mini cold storage in Gandatwisa so that farmers can store their mangoes, sell them gradually, and prevent spoilage. The tender for this has already been completed. Given the acute water crisis in this district, we have decided to set up a solar pump on 5 kani (1.98 acres) of land,” said the Minister.
He added that around 144 farmers are engaged in mango farming, with some achieving annual incomes of up to Rs 15 lakh.
