Tripura Government Expands Natural Farming Initiatives to Restore Soil Health

Agartala: Tripura Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath is leading a push to promote sustainable agriculture across the state to protect land quality and restore soil fertility. During the inauguration of a district-level workshop at Ragna Higher Secondary School in North Tripura, Nath emphasized that the government is actively encouraging farmers to transition away from chemical-heavy cultivation methods.

The initiative is part of a month-long national campaign, Khet Bachao Abhiyan, running through June 30. Nath highlighted the urgency of these reforms by stating, "We can see that nature and the environment are changing. Agricultural land is gradually losing its fertility and becoming polluted. That is why we are now moving towards natural and organic farming."

Currently, 5,000 hectares of land in Tripura are under natural farming, a figure the government expects to reach 16,000 hectares by the end of the year. The state has also seen significant growth in organic farming, which has expanded from 2,000 hectares in 2018 to more than 26,000 hectares today. These efforts aim to lower production costs for farmers while ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability.

To support this transition, the government is hosting awareness programs at the Panchayat and Zilla Parishad levels with guidance from Krishi Vigyan Kendra scientists. Officials are also urging public representatives who own farmland to adopt these practices personally to set an example for the local farming community.