Tripura’s organic farming sector received a significant boost on Monday as a consignment of more than 15,000 organically grown scented lemons was dispatched to other states, with plans for overseas export as well.
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath flagged off the shipment from Agartala Railway Station to Kolkata, marking another milestone in the state’s expanding organic farming efforts. The consignment was organized by the Tripura State Organic Farming Development Agency in collaboration with the Baramura Organic Produces Company Limited. Addressing the media, the minister described the occasion as historic, noting that while Tripura’s scented lemons have been exported earlier, this was the first time such a large quantity—over 15,000 lemons—was being sent beyond the state and abroad through an organised framework.
Nath said the lemons were cultivated by around 80 farmers across nearly 100 hectares in the South Hadrai and Hawaibari areas of Khowai district. The initiative was led by Agartala resident Sourav Gupta under the recently launched ‘Prabashi Tripura’ programme, initiated on the directions of Chief Minister Manik Saha. The minister also announced that another consignment of 15,000 scented lemons is expected to be exported soon. Highlighting the state’s progress in organic cultivation, he said the area under organic farming has increased dramatically—from about 2,000 hectares before 2018 to over 20,000 hectares at present.
Emphasizing the government’s focus on improving farmers’ livelihoods, Nath said efforts are being made to ensure better market access and fair prices for farmers through Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs).
