Agartala/IBNS: Tripura, renowned for its agricultural excellence, has joined the ranks of leading mango-producing states, including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Farmers across the state have embarked on commercial mango cultivation, reaping profitable benefits, as stated by Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath, reporetd Northeast Today.

During the Mango Diversity Exhibition held at Nagicherra's Horticulture Research Centre on the outskirts of the capital city, Minister Nath expressed his optimism about the future of mango cultivation.

He highlighted the mango tree's significance, often referred to as the 'Kalpa' tree, renowned for producing a delectable fruit cherished across Asia. Mangoes, India's national fruit and known as the "king of fruits," enjoy immense popularity.

"In Tripura, commercial cultivation of various mango varieties is already underway, particularly in Nagicherra, where we have 13 developed Indian varieties and 22 foreign varieties, including Miyazaki, Haribhanga (Yellow Banana, Japanese All Time), and Thai Himsagar," stated Minister Nath.

Minister Nath further explained, "India is renowned for its diverse mango varieties, such as the Alphonso from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, Kesar mango from Gujarat, Dasheri mango from Lucknow, and Kisan Bhog from West Bengal.

Different mango varieties possess unique tastes and aromas, with Alphonso standing out for its incomparable flavor, appearance, and fragrance. Additionally, mangoes are rich in vitamins A and C."

Minister Nath highlighted that India's mango production for the fiscal year 2022-23 reached approximately 21 million metric tons, with Uttar Pradesh contributing the most at around 23% of the total production.

In Tripura, varieties like Amrapali, Himsagar Ambika, and Arunika are cultivated across an area of 10,357 hectares, yielding an average of 5.09 metric tons per hectare.

The "Mango Variety Exhibition" was organized at the Horticulture and Research Centre in Nagicherra to showcase these remarkable varieties.

During the event, Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced the launch of an initiative under the Chief Minister’s Svanirbhar Parivar Yojana. It aims to distribute 1.5 million saplings of lemon, papaya, betel nut, banana, and mango to 100,000 families.

The government also plans to cultivate 2,000 hectares of land for palm oil, with an additional 1,300 hectares allocated for the cultivation of mangoes, jackfruit, oranges, pineapples, and bananas. Furthermore, coconut cultivation has expanded by 295 hectares.

Minister Nath added, "We will also focus on increasing the cultivation of our traditional fruits, such as jam, litchi, guava, and kul. Under the 'Urban Horticulture' scheme, the H&SC department plans to distribute 295,000 seedlings of coconut, mango, hybrid vegetables, and flowers among 20 urban local bodies (ULBs).

Tripura is self-sufficient in rice seed production, eliminating the need for external procurement. The current cost of rice seed stands at Rs 29."

The Mango Diversity Exhibition in Nagicherra witnessed the participation of Apoorba Roy, Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare department, veteran journalist Shekhar Datta, Jayanta Bhattacharya, President of Agartala Press Club, senior journalist Sanjib Deb, and industrialist Ratan Debnath.

Minister Nath, accompanied by the journalists, also visited the Nagicherra agricultural and horticultural research centre.