The Tripura government has decided to form a society to develop the agri-farms and orchards under the state government which are incurring huge losses every year.

Education minister Ratan Lal Nath said the decision was taken in a cabinet meeting recently. “In the recently-held cabinet meeting, a decision was taken to form ‘Tripura Farms and Orchards Research and Demonstration Society’ to develop six agri-farms and nine orchards which are incurring losses every year,” he said.

Nath said the council of ministers in the recently-held meeting decided to set aside half of the total income for development of agri-farms and orchards by forming the society. Currently, the state government has 14 agri-farms and 47 orchards. Of these agri-farms, two are reeling under huge losses while the rest are making little profit. Most of the 47 orchards, too, are incurring huge losses in Tripura.

“As a pilot project, the six agri-farms and nine orchards will be brought under the ‘Tripura Farms and Orchards Research and Demonstration Society’ for development. We shall hold a meeting with the state planning board to develop rest of the agri-farms and orchards,” Nath told reporters.

Asked about the government’s plan to plant trees along national highways and riverside for beautification, Nath said so far, 3,991 hectares had been covered.