Tripura - Agriculture

			Aromatic Paddy Cotton Mesta Sugarcane

Aromatic Paddy

Aromatic local paddy of Tripura ( Kali khasa, Gobinda Bhug, Thakur Bhug etc.) : The incomparable flavor of Tripura’s own local varieties of paddy namely Kali Khasa, Gobinda Bhug and Thakur Bhug etc., other than Basmati, are also having the high export potential qualities to earn foreign exchange. The said varieties of paddy are normally grown under rain-fed condition of Tripura.

Cotton

Short-staple cotton in Tripura : The short staple cotton with high tenable strength of fiber is also produced on upland under rain-fed condition in Tripura. The productivity of the crop is 239 k.g./Hector. There are about 1600 ha. Of area under short staple cotton in Tripura. The area of the crop can be increased to a considerable extent provided marketing facilities are created with reasonable prices.

The upland cotton has its potential market in the field of medical in our country as well as abroad. Cotton may also be used for blending with wool towards weaving of carpet.

Mesta

Golden fiber of Mesta : Mesta is grown on upland under rain-fed condition in Tripura. The area under Mesta in Tripura at present is about 2600 ha. The productivity of the crop is 1.6 MT/Ha. The fiber of the crop can also be used for blending with Jute for making of carpet. Once the market of the crop with reasonable rate is ensured, the area of the crop can be increased to a considerable extent as the Mesta growers will get impetus in having reasonable price.

Sugarcane

Sugarcane : One-year duration – sugarcane is also grown on upland in rain-fed condition in Tripura. The sugar-content of the crop grown in Tripura is more than that of the average level of other millable canes grown under low level condition. The average area under sugarcane grown under rain-fed condition in Tripura is 1300 Ha. And the productivity of the crop is about 55.7 MT/Ha.

If proper marketing facilities are extended with ensurance of reasonable market price, the area of sugarcane on tilla land can be increased to a greater extent, as we are still having tilla land / flat tilla land in Tripura for coverage under certain crop suitable under the upland rain-fed eco-system.

On the whole, the average area of the above mentioned crop in the state is very poor having deploying towards production and productivity. This is only because of the fact that the farmers / growers are not getting market with remunerative prices.

In order to boost up the production and productivity along with coverage of more areas under the crop, it is essential to ensure better techniques and special thrust given in the field for better utilisation of upland resources in Tripura.

It is observed that most of the tribal farmers of the state are still continuing cultivation of the above mentioned crops on tilla land and extension of further area with ensurance of proper marketing facilities and remunerative price will surely help to increase the financial availability of the poor tribal farmers in the state.