Integrated Farming System with High-Income Components Emphasised for Farmers in Tripura

26 August 2026, Tripura

ICAR–Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, organised a three-day Capacity Building Programme on ‘Integrated Farming System for Sustainable Agriculture, Technology Dissemination and Livelihood Improvement’ for 110 farmers during 24–26 August 2026 at Sepahijala, Tripura. The programme was organised under the NEH Component in collaboration with College of Fisheries (CAU, Imphal) - Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Sepahijala, Tripura.

Dr Anup Das, Director, ICAR-RCER, Patna, emphasised the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, resource-efficient production practices and Integrated Farming System (IFS) approaches to enhance farm productivity, profitability and resource-use efficiency. He particularly stressed the importance of integrating at least one high-income-generating component into the farming system, such as a planting material production unit, poultry incubation unit, fish spawn/fingerling production unit or small-scale processing unit. Such components, he said, can promote farm-based entrepreneurship and significantly enhance the income of small and marginal farmers.

Shri P.B. Ray, President, All Tripura Farmers Club and Member, IMC, ATARI, Umiam, appreciated the efforts of ICAR-RCER, Patna in promoting modern farming practices in the NEH region, particularly in Tripura for enhancing farmers’ income. He emphasised effective collaboration between Agriculture Department and KVKs to take proven technologies of ICAR-RCER to farmers including lablab bean variety Swarna Nidhi with two-season fruiting, grafted tomato with wilt resistance and a longer fruiting period, Integrated Natural Farming, and homestead farming system models for one- and two-katha landholdings.

The technical sessions focused on key farmer-oriented issues, including climate-resilient varieties, high-yielding vegetables and fruits, the role of livestock and fisheries in IFS, soil health management, and water-efficient farming practices. Dr Bibhas K. Dey and Shri Sujit Das, Deputy Directors, Government of Tripura, and Head, KVK Sepahijala, interacted with the farmers and discussed practical approaches for enhancing farm income through sustainable integrated farming systems.

As part of the programme, scientists from ICAR-RCER, interacted with farmers on the importance of location-specific Integrated Farming Systems and the use of digital tools and technologies for improving farm income while conserving natural resources. Field visits were also organised in Sepahijala and West Tripura districts to understand farmers’ field-level issues, provide location-specific technical guidance and identify need-based technological interventions.

To facilitate faster field-level adoption of improved technologies, ICAR-RCER provided need-based critical agricultural and aquacultural inputs to participating farmers. These included 20,000 Indian Major Carp (IMC) fingerlings, 500 mango seedlings, 110 packets of cauliflower seeds (10 g each), 110 packets of chilli seeds, 5 kg radish seeds, 5 kg pumpkin seeds and 3 kg onion seeds.

The programme provided a platform for direct interaction between scientists and farmers, combining capacity building with practical technology dissemination. The integration of high-yielding crops, horticultural crops, livestock and aquaculture, along with income-generating enterprises, is expected to enhance farm profitability, diversify livelihoods and strengthen the sustainability of small and marginal farming systems.

The initiative reflects ICAR-RCER’s continued efforts to take location-specific, farmer-centric and resource-efficient technologies to the field and strengthen sustainable, Integrated Farming System-based agriculture in the North Eastern Region.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Joy Kumar Dey, SMS (Agronomy), KVK Sepahijala.

(Source: ICAR–Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna)