Tripura flags off 18.7 MT organic rice consignment for European market

Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Wednesday flagged off 18.7 metric tonnes of organic aromatic rice for the European market, describing it as the first such consignment from the state.

The consignment, sent through Pratithi Organic Foods Pvt Ltd, comprises 1.2 MT of Kalikhasa rice, 1.5 MT of sticky rice, 6 MT of black rice and 10 MT of Harinarayan rice.

Nath flagged off the consignment at a sensitisation programme on the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) held at Pragna Bhaban here.

The minister said the state government had prioritised organic farming as a means of promoting rural prosperity and that Tripura had potential in organic agriculture.

He said farmers in the state had traditionally followed practices such as crop rotation, mixed farming and the use of organic compost. Several farmer groups had also integrated these practices with certification standards, he said.

Nath said Tripura had in recent years sent organic products, including aromatic rice varieties, ginger, scented lemon, bird’s eye chilli and Queen Pineapple, to various domestic and international markets.

He said the products had reached Delhi, Maharashtra, Bengaluru, Gujarat, West Bengal and Guwahati, besides Germany, Dubai, Oman and Bangladesh.

The minister said farmers had adopted organic practices for crops including aromatic and sticky rice, ginger, turmeric, bird’s eye chilli, mustard, sesame, foxtail millet and pineapple varieties such as Queen and Kew.

During the present government’s tenure, 26,600 hectares have been brought under organic cultivation, of which 14,411 hectares are registered, 2,002 hectares are under conversion and 10,189 hectares are under consideration, he said.

A total of 53 Farmer Producer Companies have also been formed, according to Nath.

He said the government was providing training and certification support through schemes, including the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), to strengthen organic farming and market linkages.

Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Abhishek Dev, Agriculture Secretary Apurba Roy, APEDA Secretary Dr Saswati Bose, Director of Agriculture Dr Phani Bhusan Jamatia, TSOFDA Mission Director Rajib Debbarma and NABARD General Manager Tanushri Bhattacharya were among those present.