Government of Tripura signs MoU with National Bureau of Soil Survey for agricultural productivity

New Delhi: The Tripura Agriculture Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nagpur-based National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS and LUP) in order to enhance agricultural productivity and to achieve self-sufficiency in foodgrain production.

The Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath has stated that the collaboration will carry-out in-depth research on cultivable land across several districts of the state, paving the way for sustainable farming practices and a stronger agricultural future for state of Tripura.

As per the Minister, soil scientists from NBSS and LUP surveyed these districts and submitted their report, the MoU was signed to extend the study to three more districts, North Tripura, Dhalai and Unakoti. He stated that NBSS and LUP scientists presented their findings while surveys in the remaining three districts-West Tripura, Sepahijala, and Khowai are yet to be taken up. NBSS and LUP is a unit of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
 

Soil scientists are now able to understand what type of soil is there and where crops such as palm oil, rubber, millets and paddy can be cultivated effectively. Mr. Nath pointed out that earlier palm oil saplings were planted at the Nagicherra Horticulture Research Centre in West Tripura, but there was not much success due to the lack of scientific assessment. Following the MoU, the Agriculture Department will prepare a comprehensive plan in consultation with soil scientists to help farmers adopt crop patterns suited to local conditions.