Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014
In West Bengal, 68 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. It is thanks to the farmers that West Bengal is a rice-surplus state and the number one producers of rice in the country. Naturally, the State’s policies would be focused on agriculture.
Under the Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal Government, the State’s performance in agriculture has been remarkable. The farmers are receiving good returns on investment for rice. At the same time, the production of cereal has increased from 148 lakh tons in 2010-11 to 173 lakh tons in 2013-14. This increase in production, despite the thrust in production of low-yielding fine rice, is especially noteworthy. The Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal Government has also taken initiatives to increase the export of coarse rice and consequently increase the production of fine rice.
To increase the overall agricultural production with major focus on fine and aromatic rice- which brings higher revenue to the farmer, the Government has implemented several steps.
Purification and distributions of seeds: The government has started purification of the Tulaipanji variety of seeds as well as the distribution and increase in the area of production.
Exhibitionary fields: The government is providing training in modern technology with high quality seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural implements in agricultural exhibitionary fields of 4, 66,038 hectares.
Hybrid corn: The government is encouraging farmers to grow hybrid corn, peanut and pulses, through training in modern farming in Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts.
Meteorological centres: The work of setting up of 145 automatic agro-meteorological centres across the State have been started, of which, the construction of 47 automatic meteorological centers have already been completed.
Distribution of farm equipment: Providing tractors, power tillers, power reapers, pump sets to 67,186 of farmers at government subsidized price and direct transfer of government subsidy to the farmers’ account for purchasing small agricultural equipment has been successfully made available for the first time. The government has also started the ‘Aamar Phasal and Aamar Gola’ scheme under which one time financial grants are being given to small and marginal farmers for storage facility for their produce.
Agro-education: With the objective of promoting agro-education, new campuses of the State Agricultural University have been opened in Burdwan and Bankura districts. Additionally, an agricultural college will soon open its gates at Tapan, Dakshin Dinajpur.
State Seed Laboratories: These laboratories have been opened at Krishnanagar and Bankura. To promote modern scientific education in agriculture, ‘Matir katha’- a unique initiative, has been stated by Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal. This project aims at disseminating information on agriculture, new government programmes, VDOs relating to agro-extension, educational documentary films and such, to farmers with the help of modern technology. This serves the objective of agricultural extension and rural development.
Crop Insurance: 15 horticultural crops have been brought under the purview of crop-insurance. This initiative has encouraged farmers to cultivate these crops.
Onion-Farming: West Bengal produces nearly 3.04 lakh tones of onion during the rabi season. The estimated demand is around 3.33 lakh tones. To be self sufficient in demand, the Government of West Bengal has initiated onion production during the kharif season.
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014
In West Bengal, 68 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. It is thanks to the farmers that West Bengal is a rice-surplus state and the number one producers of rice in the country. Naturally, the State’s policies would be focused on agriculture.
Under the Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal Government, the State’s performance in agriculture has been remarkable. The farmers are receiving good returns on investment for rice. At the same time, the production of cereal has increased from 148 lakh tons in 2010-11 to 173 lakh tons in 2013-14. This increase in production, despite the thrust in production of low-yielding fine rice, is especially noteworthy. The Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal Government has also taken initiatives to increase the export of coarse rice and consequently increase the production of fine rice.
To increase the overall agricultural production with major focus on fine and aromatic rice- which brings higher revenue to the farmer, the Government has implemented several steps.
Purification and distributions of seeds: The government has started purification of the Tulaipanji variety of seeds as well as the distribution and increase in the area of production.
Exhibitionary fields: The government is providing training in modern technology with high quality seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural implements in agricultural exhibitionary fields of 4, 66,038 hectares.
Hybrid corn: The government is encouraging farmers to grow hybrid corn, peanut and pulses, through training in modern farming in Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts.
Meteorological centres: The work of setting up of 145 automatic agro-meteorological centres across the State have been started, of which, the construction of 47 automatic meteorological centers have already been completed.
Distribution of farm equipment: Providing tractors, power tillers, power reapers, pump sets to 67,186 of farmers at government subsidized price and direct transfer of government subsidy to the farmers’ account for purchasing small agricultural equipment has been successfully made available for the first time. The government has also started the ‘Aamar Phasal and Aamar Gola’ scheme under which one time financial grants are being given to small and marginal farmers for storage facility for their produce.
Agro-education: With the objective of promoting agro-education, new campuses of the State Agricultural University have been opened in Burdwan and Bankura districts. Additionally, an agricultural college will soon open its gates at Tapan, Dakshin Dinajpur.
State Seed Laboratories: These laboratories have been opened at Krishnanagar and Bankura. To promote modern scientific education in agriculture, ‘Matir katha’- a unique initiative, has been stated by Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal. This project aims at disseminating information on agriculture, new government programmes, VDOs relating to agro-extension, educational documentary films and such, to farmers with the help of modern technology. This serves the objective of agricultural extension and rural development.
Crop Insurance: 15 horticultural crops have been brought under the purview of crop-insurance. This initiative has encouraged farmers to cultivate these crops.
Onion-Farming: West Bengal produces nearly 3.04 lakh tones of onion during the rabi season. The estimated demand is around 3.33 lakh tones. To be self sufficient in demand, the Government of West Bengal has initiated onion production during the kharif season.
