1. Presentation For KRISHI KARMAN AWARD’ 2014-15
Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi
15th December, 2015
Department of Agriculture
Government of West Bengal

2. WEST BENGAL: An Overview
Area: sq. km. (2.7% of geographical area of the country)
Population: 9.23 Crores (70% Rural)
Population density: 1029/sq. km.
Six agro-climatic zones viz. Hilly region, Terai, Gangetic alluvial, Vindhya alluvial, Red laterite and Coastal region
Total cultivable area is L ha of which Net Sown area is L ha (92.44%)
Total no. of agricultural holdings is lakh of which 96% constitute of Small and Marginal Farmers
Average size of land holding is only 0.77 ha
Gangetic alluvium zone is largest (73.06% of Total Cultivable land) & most fertile but frequently faces natural vagaries like hailstorm, flood, drought, moisture stress.
Cropping Intensity is 184%
Irrigation potential: 62% of net cropped area
Farm power availability 1.48 KW/ha

3. Achievements in Foodgrains & Oilseeds in 2014-15 (base year: 2010-11)
Crop
Area
(Lakh ha)
Production
( Lakh MT)
Productivity (Kg/ha)
Kharif Rice
42.36
115.75
2732
Boro Rice
12.90
43.56
3377
Total Rice
55.27
159.31
2883
Increase over
11.78%
18.98%
6.46%
Wheat
3.35
9.39
2807
5.63%
7.41%
1.70%
Maize
1.52
6.63
4351
71.93%
88.21%
9.49%
Pulses
2.52
2.37
941
27.77%
34.19%
5.02%
Total Food grains
62.79
177.86
2833
12.90%
20.09%
6.38%
Oilseeds
7.76
9.01
1161
15.67%
28.11%
10.78%
Source: 4th Advance Estimate

4. Percentage increase in Area, Production & Productivity in 2014-15 over 2010-11

5. Strategies & Measures taken for achieving Foodgrains & Oilseeds Production during 2014-15
Zone specific technology intervention e.g.
Correction of soil acidity & application of Boron in North Bengal districts
Use of stress tolerant varieties like Sahabhagi dhan in drought prone areas and Swarna Sub-1 in low-lying areas.
Crop Diversification
Diversification from Boro Rice to Pulses, Oilseeds & Maize.
Technology Dissemination through DCs
Seed treatment for all crops
SRI, DSR & Mechanical Transplanting in Rice
Zero Tillage in Wheat & Rice
Use of Rhizobium culture and micronutrients for Pulses
Intensification of SRR (well above minimum SRR for all crops)
Facilitating availability of Quality Seeds & Inputs

6. Strategies & Measures taken for achieving Foodgrains & Oilseeds Production during 2014-15
Popularization and facilitation of Farm Mechanisation
Front-ended subsidy under FSSM, OTA-SFI, Custom Hiring Center schemes.
Seasonwise Contingency Plan and implementation thereof
Financial support and Inputs distribution to Natural Calamity affected farmers
Universalisation of KCC (more than 69 Lakh farmers covered since )
Use of ICT through a state of art software application (MATIR KATHA) to reach out to farmers on real time basis.
Close Coordination with Line Departments for Procurement, Marketing support, Irrigation and Power Supply

7. Innovations/Initiatives, Lessons Learnt & Experiences in scaling up
Poira cropping/ relay cropping of Khesari (Lathyrus)/ Lentil in rice fallows:
Additional area coverage under pulses
Increase in cropping intensity
Improvement of soil health
Additional income to farmers
During , additional area of ha has been brought under pulses through poira/ relay cropping in rice fallows

8. Innovations/Initiatives, Lesson Learnt & Experiences in scaling up
Inter cropping/ Relay cropping of Green gram (Moong) with Jute:
Additional production of Green gram.
One extra crop with very little additional cost & without hampering yield of jute.
More remunerative to jute growers.
It has been planned to cover ha area through inter/ relay cropping of green gram with Jute during

9. Innovations/Initiatives
Establishment of permanent site for “Mati Tirtha Krishi Katha”:
Agricultural fairs have been regularly held since at Block, District & State levels.
The State level fair is celebrated as “Maati Utsab” to recognize the importance of Soil & contribution of Farmers.
First in India, a permanent site with infrastructure is being set-up as “Mati Tirtha-Krishi Katha” for Agriculture & Allied sector fairs, exhibitions, demonstrations, promotions, publicity etc.

10. Expenditure under Various Schemes in 2014-15
(Rupees in Lakh)
Scheme
Fund released by GOI
Unspent Balance of
Total Fund Available
Fund Utilized
% of Utilization
NFSN-Rice
93.47
NFSM-Pulses
-63.78
97.46
NFSM-Coarse Cereals
72.00
66.66
92.58
NFSM-Commercial Crops
152.70
147.43
96.55
Additional Area Coverage
316
261.66
82.80
BGREI
563.43
93.42
NMOOP
602.97
310.13
913.10
774.63
84.84

11. Coordination with Line Departments
WRI&D Department
JALTIRTHA, a Minor Irrigation programme launched in arid zone (Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum & West Midnapore)
Budget : Rs 500 Cr; Irrigation potential: ha; Farmers to be benefitted: 64000
Power Department
621 Feeder segregation extending HT lines across Km with an investment of Rs Crore under DDUGJY
Energisation of pump-sets: energised since ; to be energised in
Agriculture Marketing
180 Krishak Bazars are being constructed for generating marketing infrastructure; 121 already completed
“Sufal Bangla” a direct marketing project for vegetables & fruits
APMC Act ammended to allow Private markets; ammendment to allow e-Auction, single point licensing & single point Market fee collection under process
PSF mechanism established in the State
Post Harvest Management support under NFSM & BGREI
Food & Supplies
271 permanent Centralised Procurement Centers have been set up to ensure MSP for paddy.
5-Year State Action Plan for procurement of Rice from current level of LMT to 40 LMT in 3 years & another 20 LMT in next 2 years
Storage capacity is being augmented from 14 LMT to 22.5 LMT

12. Future Strategies and Road Map
More emphasis on crop diversification
Summer rice to Pulses, Oilseeds & Maize
Kharif Paddy to Aromatic Rice
Special Emphasis on Soil Health Management
GIS based farmer friendly smart soil health card and Advisory
Promotion of Organic farming and implementation of PKVY
Self sufficiency in quality seed production
Augmentation of Breeder seed production
Strengthening State Seed Certification & Testing infrastructure
Infrastructural development of Govt. Farms for quality seed production & enhancing capacity for Seed Processing & Storage

13. Future Strategies and Road Map
More impetus to Farm Mechanization
More Financial assistance to small and marginal farmers for purchase/ hiring of farm equipments
CHC scheme to be expanded
Involving FPOs in promotion of Farm Mechanizaion
Training-cum-Demonstration Centre at each district
Augmenting irrigation facilities & improving Water Use Efficiency ( More Crop Per Drop)
Effectively Connecting & Networking with Farmers
ICT enabled farmers’ advisory & feedback mechanism
Krishi Mela and Demonstration Camps in every Block.
TV & Radio programme with dedicated time slots.
Mobile Extension Unit
Publication of monthly News-letter incorporating best practices

14. Thank you