Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday, 20 June reaffirmed that raising farmers' incomes is central to the state government's development agenda, arguing that rural prosperity forms the bedrock of both state and national progress. Saha was speaking at the disbursement event for the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme held at the Tripura State Agriculture Research Centre in Arundhatinagar, on the outskirts of Agartala.

Key Remarks by the Chief Minister

'If villages develop, the state develops, and only when the state develops can the country achieve real progress,' Saha said at the event. He recalled that farmers in Tripura had historically struggled with debt while working their land, and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with launching PM-KISAN specifically to address that burden. 'Farmers are the backbone of society and its breadwinners. Even under adverse conditions, they continue to provide food to the people,' he added.

Agricultural Gains Since 2018

Saha noted that since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government assumed office in 2018, the state has rolled out a series of schemes targeting the socio-economic upliftment of the farming community. Through direct paddy procurement alone, more than ₹529 crore has been transferred directly to farmers' bank accounts. Subsidised agricultural inputs worth ₹233.63 crore have also been provided to cultivators across the state.

The Chief Minister pointed to the combined effect of Central and state initiatives — including the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Krishi Vikas Yojana — in driving up both agricultural output and farm incomes. More than 2.53 lakh Soil Health Cards have been issued to farmers to improve land fertility, he said.

PM-KISAN Coverage Expands in Tripura

In 2018-19, the PM-KISAN scheme transferred ₹30.37 crore to the accounts of more than 1.51 lakh farmers in the state. In the current financial year, coverage has expanded significantly: more than 2.16 lakh farmers are set to receive over ₹43.32 crore directly into their bank accounts, according to Saha. The growth in beneficiary count — from 1.51 lakh to 2.16 lakh — reflects a roughly 43% increase in scheme reach over six years.

Peace and Development Linked

Saha also underlined that development gains are only sustainable in a stable environment. 'Development activities are progressing at a rapid pace because a positive and peaceful atmosphere has been created in the state,' he said. He framed the state's progress within the broader national vision: 'A Viksit Bharat can be achieved through the creation of Viksit States.' Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath was also present at the event.

What Comes Next

With the 23rd instalment now disbursed, attention will turn to whether Tripura can sustain the expansion of PM-KISAN coverage and translate subsidy flows into measurable income gains for smallholder farmers. The state's ability to link scheme outlays to verifiable improvements in rural livelihoods will be a key test of its agricultural policy in the coming financial year.