Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath today criticized the previous Left Front government for its failure to take adequate steps to enhance farmers' income. His remarks came during the inauguration of the state's first FPO-2025 fair at the Purbasha premises, marking a milestone in empowering farmers and strengthening the agricultural sector in Tripura.
Minister Nath emphasized that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is focusing on the welfare of women, youth, farmers, and marginalized communities. He reaffirmed the state's commitment to building a self-reliant Tripura through the collective efforts of all its communities.
"The central government's initiatives aimed at supporting farmers are driving financial stability in the sector. We must encourage farmers to become self-sufficient, as they form the backbone of our food security," said Minister Nath.
He explained that Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are farmer-led groups that unite small and marginal farmers to manage production, processing, marketing, and business operations. The primary goal of FPOs is to enhance the financial well-being of farmers by increasing productivity, lowering costs, and ensuring fair market prices for their produce. The central government launched the FPO project in 2020 to promote such organizations nationwide.
As of now, Tripura has 58 FPOs spread across the state's 58 blocks, benefiting a total of 10,434 farmers. Minister Nath revealed that the monthly income of farmers in the state has seen a significant increase under the current government's policies. While the Left Front government had left the average monthly income at Rs. 6,580, it has now risen to Rs. 13,590, thanks to initiatives such as the Krishak Samman Nidhi Scheme, the MSP for paddy, subsidized seeds and fertilizers, agricultural machinery distribution, soil testing, crop insurance, and the establishment of Krishak Bandhu Kendras.
The Minister also underscored the positive impact of the central government's agricultural budget allocation in driving these changes.
In conclusion, Nath called on the public to join efforts in building a self-reliant and prosperous Tripura and wished for the success of the three-day FPO fair.
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