Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014
As 95% of farmers of the state are small and marginal farmers who operate on about 80% of the land under cultivation, it becomes important to provide support to farmers at different stages of cultivation, i.e. sowing, harvesting and post-harvesting (marketing of produce). Because of the change in strategy to produce crops as per market demand rather than focussing on just increasing the production levels, farmers had to bring changes in their agricultural practices and the government acted as a guide at each step.
You shall reap, what you sow
‘Tested Seeds’: To yield a uniform quality of produce, farmers are being educated to use seeds rather than using previous produce for sowing. This has increased the seed replacement rate of major crops and only ‘Tested Seeds’ were supplied in a timely manner through the state agricultural department. Two new seed testing facilities have been notified as per the act to cater to increased load of seed testing.
Support for fertilizers and weather forecasting
Vermi-compost facility: 34,492 Vermi-compost production centres have been set up to empower small and marginal farmers.
Weather forecasting centres: 45 automated Krishi weather forecasting centres are now operational, and there is a plan to establish 145 more such centres.
Fair price shops for fertilizers: In conjunction to better seeds, farmers were provided fertilizers through fair price shops with increased vigilance to check any malpractice.
Crop Insurance: The government also pays the premium of crop insurance and in turn motivates farmers to put all their efforts in to cultivation.
Financial support has increased manifold
Kisan Credit Card: Within 1000 days of governance, Kisan Credit Card has now been extended to 24,33,719 farmers which in itself is remarkable.
Electric connection for pump sets: To help in reducing cost of cultivation, a one-time assistance of Rs. 8,000 is given to farmers to avail electric connection for pump sets.
Pension for farmers: About 66,700 farmers have been brought under Farmer’s Old Age Pensions network.
Subsidy for farm equipment: Government subsidy ranging from Rs 45,000-10,000 has been given to 67,186 farmers for buying tractors, power tillers, power rippers, pump sets and small farm equipment, through direct transfer in Kisan credit bank accounts.
Support to marginal farmers: About 50,000 marginal farmers have been given Rs 5,000 each for purchasing small implements as per their choice.
Apart from financial support, Mobile Extension Units and regular broadcast of advisory and subsidy schemes over AIR and TV channels have helped in solving information asymmetry problems of farmers.
Developing markets for the produce to be sold
A unique approach to create markets for farmers at each block level through ‘Bruhat Krishi Bazaar’ has been adopted. It aims to formulate Farmer Interest Groups and Farmer Producer Organisations (already present in 6 districts) which will eradicate the middle men involved in the marketing of farm produce. The construction of 25 such markets will be complete by March 31, 2014. Another, 102 agri-markets are in the work-in-progress phase.
Achievements galore
West Bengal has received many accolades in the recent past for its achievements in agriculture. For two consecutive years it has received the ‘Krishi Karman Award’ from the Government of India. Software developed under the project on electronic-disease and pest surveillance has been rewarded with the India Geospatial Award for 2013-14.
The government believes that all these achievements are due to the farmers, and that is why it has started celebrating Maati Utsav. The day is marked by the Chief Minister spending a day with farmers and awarding the best performing farmers with ‘Krishi Ratna’ at the block level (Rs 10,000 and citation) and ‘Krishi Samman’ at district level (Rs 50,000 and citation).
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014
As 95% of farmers of the state are small and marginal farmers who operate on about 80% of the land under cultivation, it becomes important to provide support to farmers at different stages of cultivation, i.e. sowing, harvesting and post-harvesting (marketing of produce). Because of the change in strategy to produce crops as per market demand rather than focussing on just increasing the production levels, farmers had to bring changes in their agricultural practices and the government acted as a guide at each step.
You shall reap, what you sow
‘Tested Seeds’: To yield a uniform quality of produce, farmers are being educated to use seeds rather than using previous produce for sowing. This has increased the seed replacement rate of major crops and only ‘Tested Seeds’ were supplied in a timely manner through the state agricultural department. Two new seed testing facilities have been notified as per the act to cater to increased load of seed testing.
Support for fertilizers and weather forecasting
Vermi-compost facility: 34,492 Vermi-compost production centres have been set up to empower small and marginal farmers.
Weather forecasting centres: 45 automated Krishi weather forecasting centres are now operational, and there is a plan to establish 145 more such centres.
Fair price shops for fertilizers: In conjunction to better seeds, farmers were provided fertilizers through fair price shops with increased vigilance to check any malpractice.
Crop Insurance: The government also pays the premium of crop insurance and in turn motivates farmers to put all their efforts in to cultivation.
Financial support has increased manifold
Kisan Credit Card: Within 1000 days of governance, Kisan Credit Card has now been extended to 24,33,719 farmers which in itself is remarkable.
Electric connection for pump sets: To help in reducing cost of cultivation, a one-time assistance of Rs. 8,000 is given to farmers to avail electric connection for pump sets.
Pension for farmers: About 66,700 farmers have been brought under Farmer’s Old Age Pensions network.
Subsidy for farm equipment: Government subsidy ranging from Rs 45,000-10,000 has been given to 67,186 farmers for buying tractors, power tillers, power rippers, pump sets and small farm equipment, through direct transfer in Kisan credit bank accounts.
Support to marginal farmers: About 50,000 marginal farmers have been given Rs 5,000 each for purchasing small implements as per their choice.
Apart from financial support, Mobile Extension Units and regular broadcast of advisory and subsidy schemes over AIR and TV channels have helped in solving information asymmetry problems of farmers.
Developing markets for the produce to be sold
A unique approach to create markets for farmers at each block level through ‘Bruhat Krishi Bazaar’ has been adopted. It aims to formulate Farmer Interest Groups and Farmer Producer Organisations (already present in 6 districts) which will eradicate the middle men involved in the marketing of farm produce. The construction of 25 such markets will be complete by March 31, 2014. Another, 102 agri-markets are in the work-in-progress phase.
Achievements galore
West Bengal has received many accolades in the recent past for its achievements in agriculture. For two consecutive years it has received the ‘Krishi Karman Award’ from the Government of India. Software developed under the project on electronic-disease and pest surveillance has been rewarded with the India Geospatial Award for 2013-14.
The government believes that all these achievements are due to the farmers, and that is why it has started celebrating Maati Utsav. The day is marked by the Chief Minister spending a day with farmers and awarding the best performing farmers with ‘Krishi Ratna’ at the block level (Rs 10,000 and citation) and ‘Krishi Samman’ at district level (Rs 50,000 and citation).
