A consignment of 15,000 organically grown scented lemons was dispatched from Agartala Railway Station to Kolkata on January 12, marking another step in Tripura’s efforts to take its organic produce to mainland markets.
The shipment was flagged off by Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath, who said the move reflected the growing strength of the state’s organic farming sector. Although Tripura’s scented lemons have previously been sold outside the state, officials said this consignment was significant as it was jointly organised by the Tripura State Organic Farming Development Agency and Baramura Organic Produces Company Limited.
According to officials, the lemons were sourced from around 80 farmers from the South Hadrai and Hawaibari areas of Khowai district. Lemon cultivation in the region covers close to 100 hectares. Kolkata has been identified as a major market for the produce.
Speaking to reporters, Nath said the initiative was linked to wider state and central government efforts to support farmers. Referring to the ‘Prabashi Tripura’ programme, he said the shipment was facilitated by Sourav Gupta of Agartala. “Farmers are our annadata. They feed the nation, and agriculture remains the backbone of India,” the minister said.
He also credited Chief Minister Manik Saha’s leadership and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly stressed the importance of strengthening agriculture by providing all possible support to farmers.
Nath said agriculture continues to be the state government’s top priority, followed by sectors such as tourism. He added that Tripura’s organic products are steadily finding markets outside the state and confirmed that another consignment of 15,000 scented lemons will be sent shortly.
Highlighting the growth of organic farming in the state, the minister said that before 2018, organic cultivation in Tripura covered around 2,000 hectares, which has now expanded to over 20,000 hectares. “Our main objective is to double farmers’ income,” he said, adding that the government is working through Farmer Producer Companies to ensure better market access and fair prices for growers.