In a significant step towards strengthening animal husbandry and dairy development in Tripura, Animal Resource development Minister Sudhangshu Das on Tuesday inaugurated a Liquid Nitrogen Production Plant along with a newly constructed office building of the Tripura Livestock Development Agency (TLDA) at Radhakishore Nagar in West Tripura district.
The programme, organized by the Tripura Livestock Development Agency under the Animal Resources Development department, was attended by local MLA Ratan Chakraborty, West Tripura Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Biswajit Shil, ARD department Secretary Deepa D. Nair, Director of Animal Resources Development department Neeraj Kumar Chanchal, the Principal of the College of Veterinary Sciences, and other senior officials.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Sudhangshu Das emphasized the critical role of liquid nitrogen in preserving high-quality frozen semen and ensuring uninterrupted artificial insemination (AI) services for livestock. He noted that the increasing expansion of AI programmes across the state has significantly raised the demand for frozen semen, making a continuous supply of liquid nitrogen essential.
The Minister said the new production facility would strengthen Tripura’s Artificial Insemination Programme by ensuring the availability of liquid nitrogen required for breeding genetically superior livestock. He expressed confidence that the initiative would contribute to higher livestock productivity, increased income for farmers, and the overall growth of the dairy and animal husbandry sectors.
Highlighting the government's vision for a self-reliant livestock sector, Das stated that the commencement of production at the state's three liquid nitrogen plants would enable Tripura to achieve complete self-sufficiency in this critical resource. This, he said, would substantially reduce dependence on supplies from other states and ensure uninterrupted AI services throughout Tripura.
He further underlined the importance of modern animal husbandry technologies in strengthening the rural economy and said the state government has been implementing a range of developmental programmes to modernize and expand the sector.
The programme began with a welcome address by Director Dr. Neeraj Kumar Chanchal, while Secretary Deepa D. Nair highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the state government to expand artificial insemination services across Tripura.
Currently, around 280 doorstep AI workers are providing mobile artificial insemination services directly to livestock farmers across the state. During the programme, selected mobile AI workers under the Government of India’s MAITRI project were provided with essential equipment to support their field activities.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Ratan Chakraborty lauded the state government's efforts in promoting livestock development and improving rural livelihoods through modern agricultural and animal husbandry initiatives.
Officials of the Animal Resources Development Department expressed hope that the new Liquid Nitrogen Production Plant would make artificial insemination services more effective, accessible and efficient, thereby accelerating livestock development and improving the socio-economic condition of rural communities across Tripura.