Riding on self-sufficiency drive
initiated in 2000-01 in Tripura, shortage of food grain production reduced
drastically. Owing to population increase coupled with other reasons,
availability of cultivable land shrunk remarkably. Population density increased
from 62 in 1951 to 350 in 2012 and average per capita land holding trimmed down
from 1.25 hector in 1976-77 to 0.56 hector at present. However, food grain
production that stood at 2.58 MT during 1970 swelled to 7.30 MT in 2011-12
indicating a 3-fold increase. With augmented food grain production, shortage of
food grain supply is reduced from 37% in 2000-01 to 12% during current year. Analyzing
the current production scenario, Officials of State Agriculture Department
attributed success to proper implementation of Centrally sponsored Rashtriya
Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY), effective utilization of lands distributed in Forest
Rights’ Act etc. Availability of high yield seed variety and improved fertilizers
also contributed to growth of production. Nonetheless, a more or less normal
monsoon too paved way for better harvest this year.
However, this
glittering picture has its grim side too. During last Rabi season in 2012-13,
around 60,000 hectre land remained barren and no crop was cultivated. The reason?
The answer is simple: lack of irrigation water. Cultivation in Rabi season that
starts from winter is irrigation-dependent. And despite expansion of irrigation
facilities, many cultivable lands of the State lack the adequate irrigation
facility leaving vast lands barren during dry season. Had this barren land
could be cultivated, the scenario would have been altogether different.
Fortunately, Agriculture Department of the State has come up with a host plans
keeping in mind both short-term and long run objectives. Plans envisage bringing
as much as land under cultivation during dry season by selecting crops suitable
for dry weather condition and augmenting water availability among other steps.
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