Economy of Tripura

Agriculture is the mainstay of Tripura’s economy. Agricultural sector provides employment to nearly 51 % of the total workers in the State. However, handicraft, particularly made of bamboo,also finds a special mention in the states’ economy. The per capita income at current prices of the state stands at Rs 10931 and at constant prices Rs 6813 in the financial year 2000-2001.

Some quality timber like Sal, Garjan, Teak, Gamar are found abundantly in the forests of the State. The most important mineral resource of Tripura is oil and natural gas. However, the industrial sector in this State continues to be highly underdeveloped.

The economic life of the Mizos has always been centered around jhum or shifting cultivation. The crops grown in the jhum are mixed. The principal crop is paddy and others are maize, cucumber, beans, arum, ginger, mustard, sesame, cotton etc. After clearing the burnt jhum, seeds for crops other than paddy are sown. Towards the end of April near the full moon time, paddy is sown. Mainly two types of paddy seeds are sown in the same field - early paddy and principal paddy. Yield of early paddy is rather poor but it ripens early and provides sustenance till the principal paddy is harvested.

There is vast scope for cultivation of tapioca, sugarcane, cotton, pulses and oilseeds in the state.
Some pulses like cowpea, rice beans and French beans are cultivated in the jhums. Oilseeds crops like sesame, mustard and soybean are growing well in the state.