Agartala, Oct 31, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Oct 31: As many as 2,46,265 registered farmers from Tripura received the benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi so far, an official said on Monday.

The process to bring the remaining farmers under this scheme is underway and the registered beneficiaries received assistance of total Rs. 499.71 crore as of now, secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare department Apurba Roy said in a press conference.

He said, as many as 2,71,613 farmers have been given loans of Rs. 1337.50 crore in the past four years from 2018-19 till September 2022.

The state government provided assistance and subsidy of Rs. 11.88 crore from the budget in 2020-21 and 2021-22 for bringing maximum paddy growers under Mukhyamantri Fasal Bima Yojana, he said, adding that 8,88,769 farmers were brought under the insurance scheme from 2018-19 to 2022-23.

The official also said, 80,541 farmers of the state were given compensation of Rs. 5.92 crore against damage of crops from 2018-19 to 2021-22.

He said, the department planned to introduce five new Agri sub-divisions at Jolaibari, B.C. Nagar, Poangbari, Nalchar and Bamutia blocks and one new Horticulture sub-division at Jampui Hills.

According to Roy, sowing of paddy in 1,44,120 hectares of land has been completed although the state received 17 per cent less rainfall this year as compared to the previous years.

He said, all the affected farmers would be given assistance under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and SDRF.

The secretary also spoke on the other major achievements of the Agriculture department and said that 63 new Agriculture Officers were recently appointed.