Agartala, Aug 10, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk
Agartala, Aug 10: Agriculture minister Pranajit Singha Roy on Wednesday claimed that average monthly income of the farmers had increased from Rs. 6580 in 2015-16 to Rs. 11,096 in 2020-21.
He was addressing the media at the civil secretariat regarding the major achievements and future plans of the Agriculture department.
He said that the state government had already taken specific plans to double the farmers’ income. Expressing hope, he said that the average monthly income of the farmers would touch Rs. 13,590 in 2022-23.
The Agriculture minister said, an initiative has been taken to include natural farming in the syllabus of Agriculture College.
He also said that a plan was in the pipeline for introducing drone technology in precision farming as a trial. The new technology would help the farmers reduce production cost and increase their profit, he added.
Sharing more details, he said that the state government was planning to set up Agri sub-division in every block. Six new Agri sub-divisions Jolaibari, B.C. Nagar, Poangbari, Nalchar, Bamutia and Tepania would start functioning very soon, he told the reporters, adding that a new Horti sub-division would be set up at Jampui Hills soon.
According to the Agriculture minister, the state government procured 1,30,003 MT paddy at MSP directly from 68,010 farmers and disbursed Rs. 235.69 crore to the farmers’ bank accounts from 2018-19 to August 5 this year. He said, a decision was already taken to increase the MSP from Rs. 19.40 to 20.40 from the next season.
He also elaborated various benefits including loans and Fasal Bima Yojana extended to the farmers. Director of Agriculture department Sharadindu Das was present in the press conference.