Agartala (Tripura) [India], The agricultural sector in Tripura is on the verge of collapse, with betel nut farmers bearing the brunt of the crisis. The Tripura State Committee of All India Krishak Sabha (AIKS) in a delegation meeting with the Director of Horticulture Department has warned about the serious economic crunch being faced by thousands of farmers in the state. State Farmers Council presented a three-point demand document. At a subsequent press conference, AIKS Tripura State Committee Secretary Pavitra Kar described the plight of about 25,000 betel nut farmers and their associated bamboo workers. Emphasizing that the livelihood of millions of people is in danger due to government neglect, which has led to lack of necessary support for farming, including mustard peel fertilizer, Babul Debnath, Secretary, Jute Areca Growers Association, called for immediate necessary measures. An outline has been prepared.Save Arecanut Cultivation He highlighted the disuse of the largest cold store in the North-East built at Nalua during the Left Front government, leaving farmers without storage facilities for their surplus produce. Debnath also criticized the ruling middlemen for cutting betel prices by 10 per cent, further reducing farmers' profits, with business worth crores of rupees almost coming to a standstill in Unkoti and Jampui, the main betel production areas. Police restrictions and ruling party interference prevent outsiders from entering these areas, forcing farmers to sell their produce at minimal prices and pushing them into debt. AIKS has made several demands from the government, including provision of easy term loans for betel growers. Government assistance for betel cultivation, construction of betel storage facilities under REGA project, assistance for betel growers affected by natural calamities, establishment of training and research center for betel cultivation, sale of betel through cooperative societies in Agartala. , free supply of mustard peels, fertilizers and pesticides, rebate on the cost of rice and bamboo, inclusion of betel growers under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Nidhi, construction of greenhouses for betel cultivation and initiatives to expand areca nut cultivation.The demands also include provision of free quality betel nuts. Government assistance will be provided to sell betel nut within and outside the state. The Director of Horticulture has assured that some measures will be taken to address these issues. The press conference also saw the participation of association leaders Swapan Das, Anil Majumdar and Mrinalkanti Ghosh, who called for immediate and decisive government action to save the arecanut farmers of the state from their dire plight.