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Agriculture Scenario in West BengalReview & Future Prospects

Pusa, New Delhi, 6th April, 2015

Overview (1)

• With an area of 88752 sq. km. ( 2.7% of total area) West Bengal supports 8% of the nation’s population and has a population density of 1029/sq. km.

• Predominantly an agrarian State with nearly 70% of the population living in rural areas.

• The State is divided into six agro-climatic zones :- – Hilly – Terai, – Gangetic Alluvial – Vindhya Alluvial, – Red & Laterite, and– Coastal

Overview (2)• 71.23 lakh agricultural holdings. 96% held by Small

and Marginal Farmers• Average size of land holding is only 0.77 ha.• Total cultivable area is 56.73 Lha. Net Sown area is

52.05 Lha (92%)• Cropping Intensity is 184%• Estimated production of Rice (3rd advanced

estimate) during 2014-15 is 154.76 lakh MT against total requirement of 146.15 lakh MT

• Estimated production of Foodgrains (3rd advanced estimate) during 2014-15 is 173.07 lakh MT against total requirement of 181.39 lakh MT.

Highlights (1)First position in Rice production

First position in Vegetables production

Second position in Potato Production Increase in Area and Production of Pulses, Oilseeds and

Maize maintaining surplus in production of Rice Production of Certified Potato Seed Tuber

1.52 Lha additional Minor Irrigation potential created since 2011-12

Highlights (2)Universalisation of KCC: 36.56 Lakh KCC issued

between 2009-10 and 2013-14 involving a credit of Rs. 70717 Crores.

4.34 Lakh Soil Health Cards (SHCs) distributed since 2007

To ensure better marketing infrastructure, 176 Krishak Bazars (kisan mandi) are being constructed in rural areas. 78 already complete.

APMC Act has been amended to allow Farmers’ Markets, Direct Marketing and Private Markets.

34 multipurpose cold storages are being set up across the State

Major ChallengesGap between production & requirement of

pulses, oilseed and foodgrains.

Increasing imbalance in use of chemical fertilizers leading to deterioration of soil health

Inadequate farm mechanization

Deficit in supply of Breeder Seeds and inadequate availability of suitable improved varieties

Unorganized marketing structure.

Need for a proper strategy for utilization of surplus production of rice, potato etc.

Major Thrust Areas in West BengalCrop Diversification

Soil Health Management.

Self sufficiency in quality seed production

Popularization of Farm Mechanization.

Augmentation of irrigation facilities and improving water use efficiency.

Post-harvest marketing support.

Crop Diversification

Diversification of area under summer rice towards pulses, oilseed & maize (2.78 lakh ha has been diversified since 2008-09) Bringing the rain-fed rice-fallow land having low cropping intensity in 4 districts of Red & Laterite Region and 4 Sub-Himalayan districts under pulses, oilseeds and coarse cereals (especially maize) Diversion of surplus area of Kharif Paddy towards ethnic aromatic rice & slender grain HYVsExpansion of area under Hybrid Paddy

Creation of additional Soil Testing Lab (STL), Mobile STL, Fertiliser Quality Control Lab, and Biofertiliser Quality Control Lab Strengthening of Soil Test Based Fertilizer Recommendation System (STFRS) Introduction of GIS based Farmer friendly Smart Soil Health Card Management System. Capacity building of the farmers, STL staffs/Extension functionaries regarding SHMSetting up of Bio-fertiliser production units in PPP mode Setting up of agro-waste compost production units & promotion of organic farming

Soil Health Management (SHM)

Self-Sufficiency in Quality Seed Production• Augmentation of Breeder seed production of major

crops in the State • Enhancement of Breeder seed allocation of different

crops specially Potato & Paddy by GOI to the State• Infrastructural development of Govt. Farms for

quality seed production• Strengthening State Seed Certification & Testing

infrastructure• Creation of Infrastructure for Seed Processing and

Storage• Relaxation of Age limit beyond 10 years for popular

HYV paddy varieties viz. IET-4786, MTU-1010 till availability of new substitutes

Popularizing Farm MechanizationIntroduction of modern cost effective farm equipment through demonstration of machines among farmersEstablishment of Custom Hiring CentresEstablishment of Training-cum-Demonstration Centre at each district for capacity building Establishment of Repair and Maintenance Centres by Agri Graduate/local youth Incentivising Local Manufacturers for modernization of plant and machinery of existing/new units Financial assistance to small and marginal farmers for purchase/hiring of farm equipment

Powering Irrigation Facilities• Provision of Pump sets (upto 5 HP) at

subsidized rate for utilization of ground water• Conversion from fossil fuel operated pump

sets to electricity operated pumps• Extension of dedicated feeder line for

electrification of pump sets & other agricultural installations

• Emphasis on storage of run off water through construction/ re-excavation of Water Harvesting Structure/Water Body/ Check Dam etc.

• Efficient & prudent use of water including drip irrigation

Post Harvest Marketing Support• Setting up of Brihat Krishak Bazars (Terminal

Markets)• Operationalizing the Krishak Bazars being

constructed at block level.• Establishment of Multipurpose Cold Storages• Supporting FPOs in direct marketing of their

produce thereby eliminating middlemen, and putting more money into the hands of producers

• Value addition at Farm Family level (by setting up Rice Parboiling and Processing units; manually operated grain drier, improved low-cost grain storage structure)

• Facilitating Export of different Rice varieties including aromatic short grain ethnic rice varieties & potato

Thank YouFor

Your Kind Attention!