Tripura minister insists farmers be tech-friendly

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

Agartala, Oct 17: The fince minister of Tripura, Bhanu Lal Saha has urged the farmers to come out of the traditiol system of cultivation and to accept newly invented technologies to meet the upcoming challenge and the competition being posed by the changing situation.

“Population is increasing; similarly the demand for food but the area of cultivation is decreasing. So the cultivators should also change their outlook”, the minister said while addressing a semir on food security at Panchayat Samiti Hall in Bishalghar.

He said that the area of agricultural land is reducing due to infrastructural development and other developmental activities. Citing the ongoing project of widening the Agartala-Sabroom tiol Highway he said that a large quantity of agricultural land will require for this.

He said that under this circumstance increasing production in the available land is the only option before us and it is possible only if the farmers and the agricultural scientists come together and introduce modern technologies in the farm land.

The minister expressed grave concern over the degradation of environment due to misuse of tural resources and said, “The time has come to be alert and we must use seeds which are suitable for our environment and will give better yield.”

He said that Shipahijala is agriculturally one of the most forward districts in the country where yield of food grains is highest and almost comparable to Tamil du.

He further said, “Agriculture has become an industry now and responding to the market demand, farmers are growing rose in the paddy field as they are not getting remunerative prices for the agricultural products. If this trend continues the days are not far away when our food security will be endangered,” the minister warned.

He lamented that the state is yet to attain self sufficiency in production of essentials like egg, milk or fish. He advised the farmers to shun use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and instead use tural fertilises after examining the need of his land which will ensure the health of the soil as well as the product.