ICAR Tripura Centre Hosts Field Day on Advanced Paddy Farming Innovations

Udaipur, Nov 23, 2024, By Our Correspondent

In a collaborative effort to revolutionize paddy cultivation, the ICAR Tripura Centre, along with Bagma Agri Producer Company Limited (BAPCL), organized a Field Day on Advancing Paddy Cultivation. The event, which brought together state leaders, agricultural experts, and progressive farmers, showcased the latest innovations in paddy farming aimed at promoting sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.The event was graced by the presence of MLAs Jitendra Majumder and Rampada Jamatia, the District Development Manager of NABARD, state officials, and over 70 farmers from across Tripura. Attendees explored advanced paddy varieties, including promising entries from All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project (AICRP) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) trials under the Initial Varietal Trial (IVT) and Advanced Varietal Trial (AVT) categories.Highlighting the advancements, the ICAR Tripura Centre showcased climate-resilient rice varieties such as ICAR NEH NICRA Aerobic Dhan-1 and 2, NICRA Boro Rice, and NICRA Hill Rice. These varieties address the challenges posed by climate change and aim to ensure sustainable productivity for farmers. Dr. B.U. Choudhary, Head of ICAR Tripura Centre, emphasized the centre’s contributions to agriculture and allied sectors in the state. He noted that ICAR Tripura has developed 17 high-yielding paddy varieties, including Gomati, Hakuchuk-2, Tripura Chikan Dhan, Khowai, and Naveen, which contribute to over 70 percent of the state’s total paddy production. Dr. Choudhary also highlighted the institution’s biofortification initiative, aimed at combating malnutrition by developing nutrient-enriched paddy varieties. The attending MLAs praised the government’s efforts in promoting advanced paddy cultivation through subsidies and modern agricultural tools. They also commended ICAR’s role in improving farming practices and productivity in the state. Stressing the importance of diversification, they urged farmers to utilize the rabi season for cultivating crops like mustard, instead of leaving fields fallow after the rice harvest, to increase income and sustainability. The Field Day featured interactive sessions where farmers exchanged ideas and learned about modern agricultural techniques. Participants also visited demonstration plots to observe advanced paddy varieties in action The event concluded with a shared commitment to adopting innovative and climate-resilient farming practices, ensuring that Tripura’s agricultural sector continues to thrive in the face of environmental challenges