Has Tripura Started Experimental Soilless Hydroponic Farming?

Agartala, June 13 (NationPress) The government of Tripura has embarked on an experimental journey into hydroponic farming, a method of cultivation that operates without soil, as announced by the state’s Agriculture Minister, Ratan Lal Nath, on Friday.

The minister disclosed that this innovative hydroponics initiative was launched at the Horticulture Research Complex located in Nagicherra, within the West Tripura District. “Upon successful trials, we plan to implement hydroponic farming across various regions of the state,” Nath stated during a press briefing.

An official from the Horticulture Research Complex explained that hydroponics is an urban agricultural technique that allows plants to grow without soil, utilizing a nutrient-laden water solution instead. This approach facilitates controlled growing environments, maximizes resource efficiency, and ensures crops are free from disease, he noted.

The official further mentioned that hydroponics can cater to both small-scale hobbyist gardens and large-scale commercial operations, producing eight to ten varieties of leafy greens. The Agriculture Minister highlighted that as part of the 15-day national campaign titled 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan', a total of 873 meetings were conducted across eight districts in Tripura from May 29 to June 12, attracting over 1.95 lakh farmers despite challenging weather conditions.

In alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of achieving self-sufficiency in agricultural productivity and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's pre-kharif campaign initiative, the minister indicated that a collaboration with scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) across all districts has culminated in this extensive campaign. The program aims to educate farmers about advanced agricultural research tailored to their unique regional needs, climate, soil fertility, and other critical factors, Nath commented.

Additionally, efforts are underway to address the practical challenges faced by farmers and devise effective solutions to guide future agricultural research directions, he added. The primary slogan of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan is ‘Lab to Land’, highlighting the need for farmers to understand which crops are suitable for their land and optimal cultivation practices during the lengthy monsoon season.

During this initiative, agricultural scientists provided comprehensive insights to the farmers. Minister Nath expressed confidence that Tripura would achieve self-sufficiency in food grain production within a few years, noting that three out of eight districts—Sepahijala, South Tripura, and Gomati—and 30 out of 58 blocks are already self-sufficient in food production.

He remarked that the average monthly income of farmers in the state has risen from Rs 6,580 a few years ago to Rs 13,590 now. As agriculture remains the backbone of Tripura, the state is home to 4.74 lakh farmers. The use of drones and cutting-edge technologies is being promoted in Tripura to boost productivity and implement scientific farming methods, with the agriculture minister referring to farmers as “Annadata”. Nath concluded, “While our armed forces protect the nation, farmers are the ones who nourish us with food and essential nutrients.”