By TC News Desk
Agartala, 18th December 2024: Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath highlighted the importance of sustainable development during a workshop on ‘Land Resource Inventory of Tripura using Geo-Spatial Techniques’ held at Nazrul Kalakshetra in Agartala on Wednesday.
The event was organized by ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Planning Regional Centre, Jorhat, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of Tripura, was managed by the State Agriculture Research Centre, AD Nagar, Agartala.
In his inaugural speech, Minister Nath highlighted the limited agricultural land in Tripura, noting that out of 60 lakh 62 thousand kanis, crops are cultivated on 29 lakh 68 thousand kanis, with paddy occupying 15 lakh kanis. “In today’s world, the focus is not just on development but on sustainable development, ensuring that the same plot of land can be used for hundreds of years while boosting productivity,” Nath stated.
He emphasized the critical role of soil for farmers, describing them as the nation’s backbone. “Farmers are the backbone, students are the arms, and teachers are the brains. Soil is the prime resource for farmers,” he said. Nath pointed out that a similar soil survey was conducted 28 years ago, and now, it is being done in Gomati and South Tripura districts, with plans to extend it to other districts.
Minister Nath urged officers from the Agriculture and Horticulture departments to support farmers, who may not be well-equipped with the latest cultivation techniques. He also called for workshops in eight districts, utilizing audio-visual methods and resource persons from Guwahati, Kolkata, and Nagpur to educate officials.
“Currently, the soil condition in Tripura is good. Paddy productivity in Tripura stands at 3,299 Kgs per hectare, second only to Punjab. We aim to boost production by examining soil quality and adopting appropriate steps,” Nath explained. He also highlighted Tripura’s second position in Areca Nut production after Arunachal Pradesh and in sem phali lima beans after Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. NJ Patil, Director of ICAR-NBSS & LUP, Nagpur, praised Tripura for being the first state to undertake soil inventory at a 1:10,000 scale. “Future generations will be thankful for this initiative. Land is something we have borrowed from them, and it must be protected and handed over in a healthy state,” Dr. Patil remarked. He discussed the impact of climate change on soil activity and the importance of optimizing soil use.
Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department, Apurba Roy, emphasized the long-term scientific benefits of the technique. “Such a study was last conducted in 1996. The soil has undergone many changes since then. We need to conduct this survey in all districts in phases,” Roy said.
Dr. K K Mourya, PI, NBSS & LUP, presented a detailed PowerPoint on the diverse physiography of Gomati and South Tripura, characterized by undulating topography, valleys, and ridges. The survey took one year to complete.
In his welcome address, A&FW department Director Saradindu Das highlighted the role of soil testing and land resources in increasing crop production. The event also saw the presence of officials from NBSS & LUP, Nagpur, including Dr. SK Reja and Director of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Dr. PB Jamatia. The JDA (Res), SARS, AD Nagar, delivered the vote of thanks.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed for soil surveys in three districts of Tripura, marking a significant step towards sustainable agricultural development in the state.
