Agartala, Oct 11: Tripura Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare inaugurated several important projects to improve agricultural infrastructure in Khowai district on Sunday. He also laid foundation stones for various initiatives.
At Office Tilla in Khowai, the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister inaugurated two newly constructed buildings-- the offices of the Deputy Director of Agriculture and the Deputy Director of Horticulture and Soil Conservation.
He said the present government is working sincerely to improve the economic and social living standards of rural people in Tripura. Nath noted, agriculture is the main foundation and the basic bedrock of the economy.
The government has taken various initiatives to help farmers adopt new technology in farming and to give them technical advice on different matters, Nath said, adding that as part of such initiatives, two newly built buildings were inaugurated today. A total of Rs. 3.88 crore was spent on constructing these two buildings.
Present as special guests at the event were Anukul Das, member of Khowai Zilla Parishad; Debashis Nath Sharma, Chairperson of Khowai Municipal Council; Gopal Debnath, a senior farmer of the area; and Sulekha Roy Deb, a woman farmer, among others.
Also speaking at the event were Aparna Singha Roy (Dutta), Sabhadhipati of Khowai Zilla Parishad, and Samir Kumar Das, Chairman of the Scheduled Caste Welfare Sub-Committee of Khowai Block, among others. The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Phani Bhushan Jamatia, Director of the Department of Agriculture, Horticulture and Soil Conservation.
Chief Engineer (Agriculture) Swapan Kumar Das, Executive Engineer (Agriculture) B. Debbarma, Deputy Director of Khowai District Agriculture Office Jiban Debbarma, Deputy Director of Khowai District Horticulture and Soil Conservation Office Chittaranjan Debbarma, scientists of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, and officials of various departments were present.
On the same day, Minister Ratan Lal Nath also inaugurated several other newly built facilities to improve agricultural infrastructure in Khowai district. He inaugurated the primary rural market at Brindabanghat, where those present included MLA Pinaki Das Chowdhury and farmer Pranab Debnath, among others. The construction of this rural market cost Rs. 2.09 crore.
Meanwhile, this afternoon, Minister Ratan Lal Nath inaugurated a newly built two-storey permanent Agriculture Superintendent's office at Kalyanpur Bazar Colony, at a cost of Rs. 3.20 crore. He also inaugurated 18 newly built market stalls of the Agri-Produce Market Committee, constructed at a cost of Rs. 50 lakh near Kalyanpur Higher Secondary School.
In addition, he formally laid the foundation stone of a market for the sale of agricultural produce near Kalyanpur Hospital, which will cost Rs. 3.70 crore to build. Speaking at the inaugural programme at Kalyanpur market, the Minister said farmers are our "annadata" (providers of food).
He said agriculture is the main foundation of the state's economy, and the state government is working with emphasis on developing agriculture and agricultural infrastructure. Modern equipment has been provided for the development of agriculture.
He urged farmers to adopt modern and scientific methods of cultivation for higher agricultural production. MLA Pinaki Das Chowdhury also spoke at the event. Those present included Kalyani Saha (Roy), Chief Whip of the Tripura Legislative Assembly; Somen Gope, Chairman of Kalyanpur Panchayat Samiti; Indrani Debbarma, Chairman of Kalyanpur BAC; prominent social worker Nitai Bal; Dr. Phani Bhushan Jamatia, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare; Chief Engineer (Agri) Swapan Kumar Das; and Executive Engineer (Agri) B. Debbarma, among others.
The programme was presided over by Anita Das Sen, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Agriculture of Kalyanpur Block.