Agartala: To make Tripura self-sufficient in mango production with premium varieties, the State Horticulture Research Station (SHRS) has established an exotic mango block to evaluate the performance, adaptability, and yield potential of various high-value mango types in the state’s agro-climatic conditions.Agriculture and farmers’ welfare minister Ratan Lal Nath said the exotic mango block features superior varieties such as Yellow Banana, Doc-Mai, Red Palmer, Bari-4, Brunei King, Haribhanga, Katimon, Thai-1 Red, and others.“The initiative aims to identify their feasibility for large-scale cultivation and lay the groundwork for producing quality seedlings to support future expansion,” Nath said.The minister also emphasised that the SHRS is a leading research institution in Tripura, engaged in applied research on horticultural crops, including fruits, vegetables, coconut, betel nut, cashew nut, spices, potatoes (ARC and IPS), mushrooms, tissue culture, and macro-propagation.He said the centre originally focused on introducing and conserving germplasm for crops such as coconut, betel nut, red oil palm, cashew nut, pepper, and banana.Nath pointed out that spanning around 15 hectares, the unit houses a diverse collection of native and exotic fruit species. Its primary goals are to introduce and popularise high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties, conserve and evaluate fruit germplasm, and develop modern technologies to enhance productivity, quality, sustainability, and profitability.Speaking about the vegetable innovation unit, the minister said it has been established within SHRS to develop advanced vegetable production technologies. Its objectives include promoting off-season vegetable cultivation like summer cauliflower, enabling farmers to meet market demands during peak periods.The initiative also focuses on conserving local germplasm, such as Surji and Bird’s Eye chilli, along with Shingaratha brinjal, paving the way for future improved variety development programmes.The minister further mentioned efforts to promote yellow-skinned watermelon cultivation as a high-value alternative to red-skinned watermelon. This move could potentially create new market opportunities and enhance farmers’ economic benefits.Applauding the success, Nath mentioned a significant productivity increase of nearly 90%, reaching 5,888 kg per hectare. Between 2023-24 and 2025-26, five new potato varieties—Kufri Moin, Kufri Himalini, Kufri Uday, Kufri Lima, and Kufri Thar-12—have been cultivated.
