Agartala, June 24 -- The Tripura government is set to invest Rs 50 crore in agricultural equipment during the ongoing Kharif season in a major push to bridge the state's production gap, Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath said on Monday.

Addressing the press after a review session with officials and public representatives, Nath said the initiative targets coverage of 47,500 hectares of farmland, including 25,000 hectares dedicated to hybrid paddy cultivation.

"We are distributing 1,500 power tillers to farmers and, for the first time, introducing subsidies for betel leaf cultivators," the Minister said.

In an effort to streamline seed distribution and beneficiary identification, block-level elected representatives and standing committe...