Agartala, June 26: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced on Friday that the state government has successfully achieved its goal of doubling farmers’ income. He stated that the average monthly income of farmers, based on the year 2015-16, was approximately ₹6,000, which has now increased to over ₹13,000. This achievement is attributed to the government’s consistent policy initiatives and agricultural reforms.
While addressing the ‘Save the Fields Campaign’ in Bamutiya, West Tripura district, and later speaking to the media, the Chief Minister emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector, protect arable land, and promote sustainable farming.
“We set the target to double farmers’ income, and we have achieved it. In 2015-16, farmers’ income was around ₹6,000, which has now exceeded ₹13,000,” he said.
Regarding the conversion of agricultural land for other uses, the Chief Minister asserted that the government will not allow fertile agricultural land to be recklessly used for non-agricultural purposes. However, he also mentioned that the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ is essential, and the government is striving to balance industrial development with the protection of agricultural land.
He stated that industrial projects should, wherever possible, be established on unused land in designated industrial areas rather than on fertile agricultural land. Every proposal related to land use will be carefully reviewed by the government to safeguard the interests of farmers and the agricultural sector.
The Chief Minister noted that the ‘Save the Fields Campaign’ is a nationwide initiative by the central government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Its aim is to protect soil health and promote sustainable farming practices.
He mentioned that the campaign was launched by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Raisen district in Madhya Pradesh. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this initiative sees active participation from the Ministry of Agriculture, ICAR, agricultural scientists, and farmers across the country.
The Chief Minister highlighted that agriculture is the backbone of India’s economy, food security, and rural livelihoods, with nearly 60 percent of the population directly or indirectly dependent on it.
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is implementing several farmer-centric schemes and scientific initiatives to enhance farmers’ income, improve soil quality, and increase agricultural productivity.
Saha warned that the excessive and uncontrolled use of chemical fertilizers like urea and DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) is continuously degrading the biological quality of soil, affecting its long-term productivity and sustainability.
He urged farmers to adopt balanced nutrient management, scientific farming, and environmentally friendly agricultural practices. He emphasized that modern agriculture should not only aim for higher production or economic gain but also ensure a sustainable future for upcoming generations.
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