Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced plans to enhance grape cultivation in Tripura by introducing 18 new grape varieties for trials. The state government aims to intensify research efforts, develop suitable cultivation technologies, and provide training and support to farmers. Minister Nath highlighted the successful cultivation of sweet grapes in the Northeastern state and the distribution of modern agricultural equipment to farmers.
The average grape productivity in India stands at approximately 24 metric tonnes per hectare. Minister Nath expressed optimism that Tripura could become a significant grape-growing region with scientific interventions and support for farmers. Scientists in Tripura have successfully cultivated four grape varieties, including two wine grape varieties, following extensive research studies.
The government plans to support grape growers by offering training to ensure sustainable cultivation practices. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Unakoti resumed research and development on grape cultivation in 2024 after a long hiatus. Preliminary results show promising performance in terms of sweetness, yield, and fruit quality. Six grape varieties were introduced to Tripura from the ICAR–National Research Centre for Grapes and planted under experimental conditions.
Efforts are underway to standardize grape cultivation techniques suitable for non-traditional grape-growing regions like Tripura. Challenges such as insufficient fruit sweetness and limited suitability of introduced varieties are being addressed through special treatments and management practices. The government plans to conduct trials on 18 additional grape varieties to identify the most suitable cultivars for Tripura’s climatic conditions.
