Tripura to send 32 tonnes processed maize to Maharashtra as state gives an ‘organic’ push
Tripura would send 32 metric tonnes of processed organic maize to Maharashtra through private agency of which 16 metric tonnes would be sent on Saturday, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath has said.
“Nearly 50,000 metric tonnes of pineapples were organically produced on 5,086 hectares of land across the state. So far, 26 metric tonnes of aromatic rice, 62 metric tonnes of ginger, 14 metric tonnes of turmeric, 149 metric tonnes of pineapple were marketed in the state in 2022-23 and 2023-24 fiscals under organic farming,” Nath told reporters after launching the sales centre of the NERAMAC organic crop at Horticulture and Soil Conservation office premises in Agartala on Friday.
He added that the maize export is a part of the state government’s push for organic farming and for popularising millet crops in line with the central government’s ‘Sri Anna’ project.
North-Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) outlets, under the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (MDoNER), are incorporated to support farmers of the north east region. NERAMAC has its outlets at Agartala Integrated Land Port, Sadar sub-divisional magistrate’s office and Secretariat. More outlets are set to open at Agartala Railway Station, Sabroom Integrated Land Port and Srimantapur Integrated Land Port.
“Different organically produced crops and products in the state will be available in the NERAMAC outlet. Apart from naturally produced products, different products by self-help groups and entrepreneurs will be available in the outlet,” said the minister.
The minister added that different products in the outlet would be sold in the city using a NERAMAC-approved mobile vehicle. According to the horticulture department, at least 20,000 hectares of land is currently under organic farming in the state.
Currently, pineapple, pepper, turmeric and green chilies and aromatic rice are being grown organically in the state. There are 19,900 farmers who are involved in organic farming.
A survey conducted in 2021 stated that 23 lakh hectares of land are under organic farming in the country and Sikkim was declared to be a cent percent organic state in the northeastern region.
Minister Nath said that the queen variety of pineapple in the state got a geographical indication (GI) tag and efforts are being taken to provide GI tag to aromatic lemon, jackfruit and sari banana. Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Apurba Roy, Director of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department Dr Phani Bhushan Jamatia and NERAMAC managing director Rajeev Ashok and others were present in the programme.
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