Agartala: In a bid to boost agricultural infrastructure and empower farmers, the Tripura government has approved Rs 160 crore for the construction of 60 rural markets across all assembly constituencies.
This was announced by state Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath during the foundation stone laying ceremony of a rural market at Tulasikhar in Khowai district.
“Laid the foundation stone of a rural market at Tulasikhar, Khowai. This market is not just a place for buying and selling, it will be the center of the village economy. This market will be the bridge where the price of the sweat of the hardworking farmers will get its right value,” Nath posted on X.
“Nearly 70 percent of Tripura’s people depend directly or indirectly on agriculture. When our farmers become self-sufficient, Tripura becomes self-reliant,” he said.
The Minister emphasized that agriculture remains the backbone of India’s economy and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions transforming the nation into the world’s “grain bank” through modern, innovative, and sustainable management of the farm sector.
Underscoring the government’s commitment to improving rural market infrastructure, Nath said the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has launched extensive efforts to modernize existing markets and set up new ones across the state.
“Developing robust agricultural infrastructure is essential for achieving self-reliance,” he said, adding that the department is implementing several projects aimed at strengthening primary rural and regulated agricultural markets.
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The Minister said that since 2018, the government has completed 144 market development projects under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) with financial support from NABARD.
Nath further stated that the state government is making continuous efforts to enhance farmers’ income and strengthen the agricultural economy through sustainable and market-driven initiatives.
