Agartala, Jul 03, 2023, TRIPURA TIMES Desk

Agartala, July 03: Tripura is set to showcase its organic Queen Pineapple and a variety of other fruits in Varanasi on July 21 next, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said on Monday. 

He was addressing the inaugural session of national conference cum Buyer & Seller Meet organized by the Directorate of Horticulture and Soil Conservation and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) at Prajna Bhavan, Agartala.

The exporters from across the country and representatives of the state participated in the conference.

"The economy of Tripura is primarily based on agriculture, which not only sustains our state but also contributes significantly to the country's economy. We are fortunate that our state is blessed with huge natural resources such as rubber, tea, Agar, bamboo and gas. These resources have the potential to foster industrial development" Dr.  Saha said.

Highlighting Tripura's efforts in rubber production, the Chief Minister mentioned, "Tripura is the second-largest producer of rubber after Kerala. In our state, approximately 94,000 metric tons of rubber are produced across 70,000 hectares of land. The rubber industry has played a crucial role in the economic development of our state. To ensure the quality of rubber, we are constructing smoke houses and manufacturing graded rubber sheets. We are also actively working on establishing partnerships with various tire companies to produce tires using locally sourced rubber."

He further added, "Tripura is known as the 'queen of pineapples,' and it has been officially declared the state fruit by the former President of India. Our queen pineapples are not only popular within the country but also in foreign markets. Recently, we held an exhibition of our pineapples in Delhi. We are exporting pineapples to other countries and have established an 'Integrated Pack House' for packaging and quality maintenance purposes. Our food products are being showcased in various locations, and on July 21, we will exhibit them in Varanasi."

The Chief Minister also shared that the state government is cultivating more than 419 varieties of exotic flowers on 1163 hectares of land. 

“Tripura produces 21 species of bamboo, and our bamboo has been used in the construction of the new parliament building. The favorable climate of Tripura supports the cultivation of fruits on over 12,000 hectares of land and vegetables in approximately 16,000 hectares. We are committed to doubling the income of farmers. In 2015, the average farmer's income was Rs. 6,580, and now it has increased to Rs. 13,510. The improved connectivity in the state will also benefit importers and exporters”, he added.

Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ratan Lal Nath, Secretary of the department- Apurba Roy and other dignitaries were also present at the event.

The Chief Minister along with other guests inspected an exhibition organized as part of the event.