Agartala: Tripura’s agriculture and farmers’ welfare minister, Ratan Lal Nath, has called for increased central aid for the state’s farmers and requested more funding for fertilisers, as well as measures to expand hybrid paddy farming.During a recent national conference on agriculture for the Kharif campaign, Nath said he had discussed with Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan the need for assistance in boosting paddy production in Tripura, as it is the state’s primary crop.Currently, paddy farming occupies about 49% of the total gross cropped area. The state plans to introduce hybrid paddy farming on around 50,000 hectares this season, supported by an allocation of Rs 10 crore, he told Chauhan.“This year, we aim to expand the area for hybrid paddy cultivation and have asked the Union minister to take into account food security by including provisions in the PM-RKVY scheme to support hybrid paddy farming,” Nath said.Nath also noted that organic farming has begun on 26,600 hectares in the state, with an additional 26,800 farmers adopting this method. Since 96% of farmers fall into the marginal category, the minister urged for a reliable supply of urea.“We have significantly initiated oil palm cultivation in Tripura, which requires substantial chemical inputs. Therefore, I am requesting the fertilizer ministry for more funding to support these chemical needs,” Nath said.In the state’s low-lying regions, paddy farmers face significant losses when heavy rains flood their fields, yet they are not provided with insurance support. To help cover the damage caused by the loss of paddy crops, he asked for flooding to be recognised as a ‘local natural calamity’ under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.