Kisan Rail to carry Tripura’s fruits to Kolkata & Delhi, assist farmers

In order to supply jackfruit, pineapple and lemon among other vegetables and fruits to the other parts of the country, therailway ministryhas decided to runKisan Railfrom Agartala to Howrah and Delhi from June 11.

With the Covid-19 pandemic having badly hit the prospects of the farmers for second year in a row, the ministry acceptedTripura’s proposal to support the tillers who have produced fruits and vegetables in commercial scale and is hopeful of exporting them abroad besides catering to the needs of the metro cities in the country.

As a result the cultivation area for lemon and pineapple had been increased from over 2,000 hectare to 2,300 hectare, leading to enhanced production of 2,500 MT of both the fruits. However, the pandemic had an adverse effect on the farmers last year as it hit them during the time of harvest.
While the did manage to send a few consignments abroad, the rest of the fruits were procured by theurban development departmentfor free distribution of vitamin-C products among urban dwellers under the Immunity Booster Project.