Tripura has exported organic agricultural products worth ₹17 crore to domestic markets and overseas destinations, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced on Monday, 8 June, citing rising demand for the state's organically grown produce. The disclosure came at a high-level review meeting on organic farming expansion at the Tripura State Agricultural Research Centre in Arundhutinagar, Agartala.

Key Developments

Minister Nath chaired the review under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) project, where he also interacted with organic farmers and representatives of Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) from across the state. The session covered production targets, marketing challenges, and prospects for scaling up organic cultivation.

In a significant marker of institutional growth, Nath noted that the number of Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) in Tripura has risen from just two before 2018 to 53 at present — a more than 25-fold increase that reflects the state's sustained push toward organised organic farming.

Crops and Markets in Focus

The state is prioritising several high-value organic crops, including Kalikhasa rice, Harinarayan rice, scented lemon, Queen and Kew varieties of pineapple, bird's eye chilli, ginger, and sesame. Demand for bird's eye chilli, ginger, turmeric, and pineapple has been growing across multiple markets, according to the Minister.

At the event, Nath flagged off a consignment of 1,000 Queen pineapples for New Delhi, produced by Bokhari Organic Producers, an organic growers' collective based in Mandai. The shipment weighed one metric tonne and comprised premium-quality Queen variety fruit.

The ₹234-Crore Infrastructure Push

Backing the export drive is a ₹234-crore project being implemented with support from the Central government and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER). The project is focused on strengthening marketing, processing, and value-addition infrastructure — critical gaps that have historically limited the shelf-life and reach of perishable organic produce from the Northeast.

Nath said the Agriculture Department's core objective is to raise farmers' incomes through sustainable practices. 'We are working to double farmers' income through organic cultivation,' he said, adding that soil health and long-term agricultural sustainability remain central to the department's strategy.

What's Next

On 27 June, Tripura will observe International Pineapple Day in New Delhi to further promote the state's flagship fruit on a national platform. Senior officials including Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department Secretary Apurba Roy and Tripura Organic Mission Director Rajib Debbarma were present at the review meeting. Despite limited cultivable land, the state government says it is committed to expanding both production and market access for organic farmers.