BY TC News Desk
Agartala, July 17, 2023: In an effort to promote self-sufficiency among farmers, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has launched a special program titled “Chief Minister’s Integrated Crop Management Program.”
The state government plans to allocate an additional Rs 65.77 lakh for this initiative. The program aims to increase the yield of ‘Amon’ paddy in the state, as this year’s rainfall has been insufficient to achieve expected results, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare minister Ratan Lal Nath said on Monday.
He emphasized that the target is to produce an extra 500 kilograms of ‘Amon’ paddy per hectare, compared to the usual 3,200 kilograms. To achieve this, farmers must follow five key policies proposed by the department. The program is not just limited to financial assistance; farmers will also receive various types of fertilizers, including urea, SSP, MOP, and organic fertilizers. The scheme has already seen a positive response, with nearly 1.1 lakh farmers joining farmers’ field schools across the state. This process is still ongoing, he added.
The current government places great importance on doubling farmers’ income and increasing crop production. Since its inception, the government has procured 1.71 lakh metric tons of ammon paddy from farmers at the minimum support price, which required an expenditure of Rs 327 crore. This year, a decision has been made to procure a total of 35,000 metric tons of paddy at the minimum support price. As of now, 1,177 farmers have already sold 1,931 metric tons of paddy at the minimum support price, Nath told reporters.
During the press conference, the Agriculture Minister also highlighted various development-oriented projects initiated by the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department.
