Blog

17 Jan

West Tripura to Get Mushroom Spawn Production Unit Under TRLM to Support Women Farmers

Sonakshi SarkarTripura

The Tripura government has approved an amount of Rs 1.07 crore for setting up a Mushroom Spawn Production Unit in West Tripura district. The project will be taken up under the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) and is aimed at improving rural livelihoods and supporting small-scale farmers and women engaged in mushroom cultivation. Officials said the new unit is being planned to help local mushroom growers, mostly women associated with TRLM and commonly known as didis, who currently depend on spawn supplied from outside the state. Because of this dependence, growers often face higher costs, delays in supply, and uncertainty…

17 Jan

Arunachal Pineapple Festival launched to promote agro-industry growth

Banasree SarkarArunachal Pradesh

The Arunachal Pineapple Festival's third edition got underway in Bagra, West Siang district, with a major emphasis on growing pineapple production, enhancing marketing and exports, and giving farmers new chances for an agro-based livelihood. The state government has designated the festival, an agro-based effort that began in 2024, as an annual calendar event. The Bagra Welfare Society (BWS) and the state horticulture department work together to organize it. Speaking at the first event, Lumla MLA Tsering Lhamu stated that Bagra Circle has rich soil that is perfect for growing pineapples and that a number of government assistance programs are increasing…

17 Jan

DoNER Secretary Visits Cultural Heritage Centre in Mizoram

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

Secretary of the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER), Chanchal Kumar, inspected the under-construction Kawlri Tlang Cultural Heritage Centre in Mizoram's Serchhip district. Funded by the Northeastern Council, the project, initiated by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, has a total cost of Rs 4.31 crore and is 65% complete, with construction beginning in September 2024. During his visit, Kumar urged the contractor to expedite work and assured that funding was not an issue, additionally suggesting the incorporation of a trekking route.

16 Jan

Mizoram Suffers ₹114.64 Crore Loss in 2025 Due to African Swine Fever Outbreak

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

Mizoram suffered a financial loss of ₹114.64 crore in 2025 due to the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), which led to the death of more than 9,700 pigs across the state, an official from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said. Deputy Director (Disease Investigation and Epidemiology) Esther Lalzoliani Ralte told PTI that 9,711 pigs died due to ASF, while another 3,620 pigs were culled as a preventive measure between March and December last year. The outbreak affected 3,867 families during this period. ASF was first detected in Mizoram on March 21, 2021, at Lungsen village in Lunglei district…

16 Jan

Arunachal Deputy CM unveils 60-bed hostel at Pali Vidyapith in Namsa

Banasree SarkarArunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein officially opened the newly built 60-bed dormitory building at Arunachal Pali Vidyapith Residential School in Chongkham, a major improvement to educational infrastructure amid growing demand for high-quality boarding facilities. Mein's initiative, which is accompanied by Namsai Deputy Commissioner C R Khampa and other dignitaries, demonstrates the government's dedication to empowering children while preserving the state's rich cultural legacy. In a time when there are few boarding options, the Deputy CM emphasized how the cutting-edge hostel will directly help the student body, especially as parents look for better educational prospects. "This facility arrives at…

16 Jan

DoNER Secretary Appreciates Mizoram’s New Ginger Processing Unit, Highlights Farmer Support

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

The Chief Minister of Mizoram, Lalduhoma, on Thursday held a meeting with Chanchal Kumar, Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, during the latter’s official visit to the state. The meeting took place at the Chief Minister’s office in Aizawl and focused on a range of development initiatives being implemented in Mizoram with support from the Ministry of DoNER. The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of ongoing projects and raised concerns over several proposals that are still awaiting approval. During the discussion, Lalduhoma requested early resolution of pending projects of the Mizoram…

16 Jan

India’s trade deficit slightly widens to $25.04 billion in December 2025

Purbalee DuttaBusiness

India’s trade deficit edged up slightly last month, even as exports to the US showed growth despite the imposition of steep tariffs. Merchandise exports increased to $38.51 billion in December from $38.13 billion in November, while imports rose to $63.55 billion from $62.66 billion. This resulted in a trade gap of $25.04 billion, compared with $24.53 billion in the previous month. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said US-bound exports have registered year-on-year growth during the first nine months of the current fiscal year. He added that India remains on course to achieve total exports exceeding $850 billion in the financial year…

16 Jan

Arunachal Deputy CM Stresses Need to Link Education with Cultural Preservation

Sonakshi SarkarArunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chown Mein emphasized the importance of education alongside cultural and linguistic preservation during the inauguration of a new hostel at Arunachal Pali Vidyapith Residential School. He committed to government support for teaching the Pali and Tai Khamti languages and highlighted the need for digitization and restoration of rare manuscripts. The 60-bed hostel will benefit students amidst limited boarding facilities. Mein also attended a meeting on boundary demarcation for Namsai Nagar Palika, stressing the need for improved civic services in the rapidly urbanizing town and urging collaboration among stakeholders for its development.

16 Jan

Mizoram Sets Ambitious Goal to Emerge as Key Rubber Producer

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

According to Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Mizoram is working hard to become one of the nation's leading producers of rubber.He stated that rubber is one of the most promising crops through which Mizoram can establish a strong identity. The state government launched the Chief Minister's Rubber Mission in 2024 with the goal of transforming Mizoram into a major rubber-producing region. He was speaking at a training program on scientific rubber cultivation, harvesting techniques, post-harvest handling, and pest management at Vanapa Hall, Aizawl.In order to ensure a well-thought-out and methodical approach, the mission was developed following extensive talks with the Rubber Board…

16 Jan

ICAR Supports Mithun Farmers in Arunachal with Fodder Initiative

Sonakshi SarkarArunachal Pradesh

In a significant step towards strengthening sustainable mithun rearing in Arunachal Pradesh, the ICAR–Arunachal Pradesh Centre at Leparada district has extended support to mithun farmers of Siang district by supplying Hybrid Napier root slips for the establishment of dedicated fodder plots. The support was extended through the Jomlo Mongku Mithun Farmer Federation (JMMFF) with the objective of creating reliable and quality green fodder resources for mithuns. The initiative also seeks to encourage farmers to gradually adopt semi-intensive mithun rearing practices in the state. Arunachal Pradesh has the highest mithun population in the country, making conservation and scientific management of the…