News:2026-02-03/Policy/tripura-cannabis-cultivation-in-hills-reflects-failed-development-policy-says-senior-journalist

3 February 2026

Tripura eradication campaigns (2026)

Policy

India·Tripura·

Tripura cannabis cultivation in hills reflects failed development policy, says senior journalist

A 3 February 2026 analysis by Tripurainfo.com Senior Journalist and Editor Jayanta Debnath argued that growing cannabis cultivation in Tripura's hill regions reflects a failure of state and central development policy in tribal and non-tribal villages, with horticulture and agricultural support funds not reaching intended beneficiaries. The piece reported a retired senior police officer's recollection of a detailed cannabis-cultivation report submitted in the late 1990s on interior areas including Pecharthal and Bishalgarh, with proposals for high-yield alternative farming that were not pursued. Debnath wrote that during recent ground visits to plantation sites and interactions with cultivators and police personnel, he found that most cultivators were poor villagers without viable alternative livelihoods rather than hardened criminals, and that destruction drives without rehabilitation drove cultivators back to the trade. The article concluded with a recommendation that the state either legalise cannabis cultivation or create genuine alternative livelihoods.

https://tripurainfo.com/TripuraArticle/TRIPURAINFO-English-Article-By-Jayanta-Debnath-199-03-02-2026-199.html Source

2026-02-03 Policy Tripura cannabis cultivation in hills reflects failed development policy, says senior journalist A 3 February 2026 analysis by Tripurainfo.com Senior Journalist and Editor Jayanta Debnath argued that growing cannabis cultivation in Tripura's hill regions reflects a failure of state and central development policy in tribal and non-tribal villages, with horticulture and agricultural support funds not reaching intended beneficiaries. The piece reported a retired senior police officer's recollection of a detailed cannabis-cultivation report submitted in the late 1990s on interior areas including Pecharthal and Bishalgarh, with proposals for high-yield alternative farming that were not pursued. Debnath wrote that during recent ground visits to plantation sites and interactions with cultivators and police personnel, he found that most cultivators were poor villagers without viable alternative livelihoods rather than hardened criminals, and that destruction drives without rehabilitation drove cultivators back to the trade. The article concluded with a recommendation that the state either legalise cannabis cultivation or create genuine alternative livelihoods. https://tripurainfo.com/TripuraArticle/TRIPURAINFO-English-Article-By-Jayanta-Debnath-199-03-02-2026-199.html Tripura eradication campaigns (2026) India Tripura