Tripura

The state is characterized by wide valleys interrupted by crested hills. The agroclimate features are warm summers and cold winters. The cultivated area is around 10% of the total geographical area. The soils are red and yellow, with acidity and low fertility. Rice is the important crop of the state with low productivity. Fertilizer use is low at 15-25 kg/ha. Soil erosion is a problem due to shifting cultivation. Suggested interventions for natural resource management for agriculture in the state are as follows:

� Watershed management

� Liming and fertilizer use on acid soils of west and south districts

� Vermicomposting to promote organic farming of fruits

Rice

The state has 0.25 million ha under rice cultivation, which covers irrigated and rainfed areas. The current state average productivity is about 2.3 tonnes/ha. Major constraints in production are widespread blast incidence and low coverage with high yielding varieties. The suggested interventions are:

� Boro rice cultivation using varieties, Krishnahamsa, Gautam and Naveen, and hybrids, PHB 71,

  6444 and KRH 2

� Blast resistant varieties IR36 and Rasi in blast endemic areas

� Growing under System of Rice Intensification on large scale for saving on water and seed

Pineapple

Tripura is one of the largest pineapple producer state in north-eastern region. Its productivity is low at 15.6 tonnes/ha that can be enhanced to 40-50 tonnes/ha through the following technological interventions:

� Planting across the slope in trenches in double row

� Restricting ratooning for two cycles

� Regulation of flowering using ethephon

� Integrated nutrient management and drip irrigation

Farm Tools and Equipment

The tools, equipment and technologies that will help in timely completion of farm operations, better placement of inputs and drudgery reduction, resulting in higher productivity in agriculture and post harvest processing in the state are: pre-germinated paddy seeder, cono weeder, serrated sickle, maize planter, wheel hand-hoe, serrated sickle, tubular maize sheller, maize dehusker and sheller, paddy drummy thresher, greenhouse technology, evaporatively cooled storage