Did you know that Tripura is home to India’s second-largest rubber industry? Tripura, which is known for its agriculture industry, produces 9.4 percent of the country’s rubber. The state significantly enhances rubber technology while also providing job opportunities for skilled workers.
Apart from agriculture and rubber, Tripura also has a few other notable industries such as fishing, tourism, and natural gas, all of which contribute significantly to the state’s economy. With numerous skill development initiatives, it aims to produce industry-ready workers and prepare youth for employment and entrepreneurship.
An overview of the industry potential in Tripura
- The state has five industrial estates; one industrial area; four PSUs and two growth centres
- Rice is the major crop of the state
- An ideal destination for knowledge sectors with a 97.22% literacy rate
- There are 18 ITIs and 5 Polytechnic institutions
Major industries in Tripura
- Rubber
- Bamboo
- Tourism
- Information Technology
- Food processing
- Tea
- Natural gas
- ONGC Tripura Power Project
- Handicrafts
Major industries in Tripura in detail
Handicrafts industry
Handicrafts are the art of workmanship and are a unique skill. It showcases the tradition of the state and also helps in job opportunities for talented rural tribal youth in Tripura. The craftsmen of Tripura are highly skilled and mostly work on bamboo and cane work.
Some of the attractive handicrafts are room dividers, wall panels, silver jewelry, cane furniture, bamboo dining table, and mats.
Some of the well-known crafts of Tripura are:
- Lamp Shades are made out of fine strips of cane and bamboo;
- furniture is made of cane;
- baskets are knitted out of cane and bamboo strips
- Handlooms – Risa and Riha are the famous traditional items in Tripura
Indian agarbatti (incense stick) manufacturers are heading to the North East looking to source bamboo in order to substitute imports from other Asian nations like Vietnam and China.
These handicrafts and handlooms are always in demand and are exported to other countries as well.
Read more at – http://www.incredible-northeastindia.com/tripura/art-handicrafts.html
Skills required in the Handicraft industry
- The bamboo handicrafts experts believe that it should be mostly focused on hands-on skills
- Craftsmen should master culture and international trends in weaving
- Knowledge of dyeing, raw materials, entrepreneurship, crocheting, and more
Employment opportunities
- Handloom expert
- Handloom technologist
- Embroidery worker
- Fabricator designer
Tourism industry
Tripura has heritage and historical sites, temples, wildlife sanctuaries, arts and crafts, and many more to explore. The tourism industry contributes a lot to the economy of the state. Tripura tourism policy 2020 -25 aims to enhance the tourism experience and promote sustainable tourism. It is the government’s vision to develop services and improve security scenarios.
Skills required
- Organisational skills
- Flexibility skills
- Communication skills
- Networking skills
Employment opportunities
- Tourist guide
- Manager
- Travel Agent
Agriculture
The agricultural industry is the most common industry in India. Tripura has the major production of rubber which enables higher income for a longer period.
Rubber production – Rubber tappers are trained and skilled under CSR initiatives. Tribal farmers are trained for new skills and ways of tapping and processing the plants.
- There are several potential sectors in Tripura such as organic spices, tea, medicinal plants, ginger, etc.
- Tripura state bamboo policy aims to give a boost to bamboo resources that provide employment and income to rural and tribal people
- The government envisages increasing the total cropped area under irrigation from 44.5% to 75% by 2020
Skills required
- Farming techniques
- Knowledge on crops
- Technical knowledge
Employment opportunities
- Equipment operator
- Laboratory technician
- Rubber industry consultant
Manufacturing and Construction industry
In the manufacturing and construction industry, bricks play a vital role in Tripura. There are many brick industries in the state which provide employment to the needful.
Food processing industry
The products of Tripura are well known both on the table and in processed forms. There is scope for area expansion under organic spices cultivation in Tripura.
Major fruit crops are Pineapple, Jackfruit, Orange, Litchi, Cashew, Coconut, and Mang. And Queen Pineapple of Tripura has been declared as “State Fruit”.
Potential of Rubber industry in Tripura
Tripura has a good cover of forest area that contributes to the production of rubber. Tripura is home to the ‘white gold.’ Hence, the major production of Tripura is rubber which stands second in the country as per cultivation and quantity of produce. This can help people to gain employment in the sector.
It has started a university to enable skilling in rubber technology for students in Tripura. Tripura university offers a three-year vocational degree programme on rubber technology with a placement offer. They offer in-depth theory classes and hands-on skill training through industry exposure.
Rubber technology deals with making automobile tires, belts, rubber mats, shoes, rubber bands, erasers, and more. It plays a major role in the Indian economy with a growth rate of 8% per year. Tripura rubber industry is crucial for many major industries like railways, aviation, transport, textile engineering, pharmaceuticals, plants, and more.
There are also parks established for Rubber and Bamboo in the state –
Rubber park – For the growth of rubber-based industries in Tripura, the government is developing Tripura Industrial Park in Bodhungnagar. The basic facilities in the centre will enable the entrepreneurs to set up business operations.
The rubber park is a joint venture between the Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC) and the Rubber Board. At least 20 rubber-based industrial projects would be set up in the park in the next few years.
Read more – https://tidc.tripura.gov.in/rubber-park
Bamboo park – In order to facilitate the setting up of bamboo-based industries in the State, a Bamboo Park has been set up at Bodhjungnagar, at a total cost of Rs.29 crores. The Bamboo Park shall not only create the physical infrastructure for the industries but also provide common facilities like bamboo raw material depot, bamboo splitting and slivering unit, bamboo treatment and processing centre, drying chambers, machine maintenance centre, etc.
Read more at – https://industries.tripura.gov.in/bamboo-park
Interesting updates from Tripura
Northeast Frontier Railway has started transportation of rubber sheets and products from Tripura
Substantial production of rubber sheets takes place in Tripura. More than 90,000 tonnes of rubber are produced annually in Tripura which is having about 87000 hectares of rubber plantation. – The Economic Time, 3rd September 2021.
Centre’s skilling programmes in North East aim to prepare youth for employment by upgrading 22 ITIs in North-Eastern states and also introduced three new trades per ITI. – The Economic Time, 27th September 2021.
Also read – Bamboo leaf tea: A new age product by an entrepreneur from Tripura – https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/bamboo-leaf-tea-a-new-age-product-by-an-entrepreneur-from-tripura/
Government initiatives in Tripura
- Swavalamban is a Self-employment Generation Programme (SEGP) – It is initiated by the State Government with the objective to ensure that a number of unemployed youth and SHGs are developed as potential individuals or entrepreneurs so that they can take up gainful self-employment. The Programme was initially launched in July 2001 but has been expanded in its scope in 2005-2006. A Swavalamban Society has been constituted for effective implementation of the Programme.
- The Government of India, Ministry of MSME launched a new Credit- Linked Subsidy Programme called PMEGP, by merging two schemes that were in operation till 31.03.2008, namely, Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) and Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) to generate employment opportunities for first-generation entrepreneurs through the establishment of micro-enterprises in rural as well as urban areas.
- Centre for Indian Bamboo Resource and Technology (CIBART) – To realize the potential of bamboo in enabling poor rural communities to secure livelihoods, and drive afforestation, sustainable fuels production, and economic growth in developing economies.
- Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) – aims to social and economic empowerment of the rural poor and women of the state. It also ensures providing needed skills to the poor for managing institutions, linking up with markets, managing their livelihoods, and capacity building.
For further details about the schemes, projects, and activities done by the ministry for the development of the state, you can check out this link – https://mdoner.gov.in/
Skill training centres
- Tripura University – https://www.tripurauniv.ac.in/Page/departmentsDetailsHome/47-DepartmentsHome
- National Skill Training Institute (W), Agartala – https://nstiwagartala.dgt.gov.in/about-us
- Bamboo Training Programme – https://tfdpc.tripura.gov.in/?q=bamboo-training-programme
- Tripura Bamboo Mission – https://www.tbm.org.in/
- Bamboo Handicraft Training Session, Kathalbari
Tripura is no less than any other North-Eastern state in the cultural factor. The state has a wide range of industries and forests through which the youth have plenty of opportunities to get skilled and employed as per their interest. The rubber productivity in the state is going to improve the socio-economic status of the state by training people.
