Agartala, February 4: Tripura’s Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced a remarkable surge in flower cultivation across the state over the past seven years, bringing prosperity to over 59,000 farmers.
Speaking after inaugurating the Vivekananda Flower Garden in West Tripura, Nath highlighted the transformative role of floriculture in the region’s economy. ‘Flowers are indispensable in our social, cultural, and religious lives,’ he emphasized, pointing to Tripura’s fertile soil and abundant rainfall as ideal conditions for this thriving sector.
What began as a modest decorative pursuit has evolved into a lucrative business. Farmers are now earning lakhs annually, with standout examples like Suntu Bhumik from Barjala raking in nearly 8 lakhs, Pradeep Sarkar from Kanchannala at 12 lakhs, Jayanta Deb from Chandibari and Indrajit Deb Nath from Baikhora each netting 8-9 lakhs yearly.
The numbers tell a compelling story. Cultivated area has ballooned from 2,738 kanis (1 kani = 0.34 acres) in 2018 to 11,720 kanis today. Farmer involvement has skyrocketed from 2,190 to 59,100, while production jumped from 1,117 metric tons to 2,704 metric tons.
Local production now meets 89% of the state’s flower demand, slashing imports to just 21%. Advanced protected structures for high-value flowers like orchids, gerberas, and anthuriums have proliferated from 225 to 504 units, with their share rising from 25% to 43%.
Nath praised agriculture as the world’s most honorable profession, adding, ‘Everyone loves flowers and children. They bring positive energy and beauty to life.’ This floriculture revolution underscores Tripura’s commitment to sustainable, income-boosting farming.