Tripura aims to scale up orchid cultivation

Agartala: Tripura administration has launched a programme to promote commercial orchid cultivation, aiming to enhance the state’s horticultural economy alongside agricultural production, agriculture and farmers’ welfare minister Ratan Lal Nath on Friday, reports Biswendu Bhattacharjee.The state’s horticulture and soil conservation department, working with ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids, Sikkim, conducted training for 3,000 farmers. They distributed 12,000 premium Dendrobium orchid planting materials and coco blocks valued at Rs 35 lakh recently. “Tripura is home to hundreds of orchids abandoned in the forest areas. Not only in domestic use, those orchids have export potential and we are exploring it further,” Nath said.

Tripura aims to scale up orchid cultivation

Tripura's administration has initiated a programme to promote commercial orchid cultivation, collaborating with ICAR-NRCO to train 3,000 farmers and distribute premium Dendrobium orchid planting materials. This initiative aims to boost the state's horticultural economy and explore export potential, mirroring the success of Mizoram and Meghalaya, thereby enhancing farmers' incomes and diversifying farming practices.

Nashik farmer found cultivating ganja on tomato farm, arrested

A farmer in Chandwad taluka was arrested for illegally growing ganja hidden among his tomato crop. Police seized 65 ganja plants weighing about 215kg and valued over Rs12.9 lakh. The farmer, Ravindra Gangurde, has a criminal history, and the authorities are now investigating his intended buyers. The raid was led by the Nashik rural police's local crime branch.

World Bank approves $225.5M initiative for forest management in Tripura & Nagaland

World Bank approved a $225.5 million initiative to help over seven lakh people in Tripura and Nagaland manage forest landscapes and improve forest value chains. The ELEMENT Project aims to preserve over 100,000 hectares of forest, enhance economic prospects through forest products like agarwood and honey, create 60,000 jobs, and reduce 435,000 tonnes of annual carbon emissions.