Kolkata, Apr 25 (UNI) The crop scenario of Bengal is very bright.
The Agriculture Department has devised crop-specific interventions to ensure long-term sustainability of production, coupled with assured and improved incomes for farmers.
Rice, wheat, maize, jute, pulses, oilseeds and sugarcane are some of the major crops of the state.
System of Rice Intensification (SRI), an improved technology, has been adopted to increase production of rice at low cost.
The State Government has been able to increase the area and production of aromatic rice like Gobindobhog and Tulaipanji.
The Government has fixed an ambitious target of 4.75 lakh metric tonnes (MT) for financial year (FY) 2018-19 by using its extension machinery to increase the area under pulse production by utilising the rice fallow areas.
From FY 2010-11 to FY 2016-17, the area under pulses has increased by 65 per cent and production by 77 per cent.
The production during 2016-17 was 3.13 lakh MT. The estimated production for 2017-18 is 4.63 lakh MT, an estimated increase by 48 per cent.
Stress has been given in increased production and yield of sunflower and groundnut because of their high potential.
Distribution of quality seeds and other agricultural inputs, and training of farmers have been identified as the key components by the State Government to achieve its targets.
Like for pulses, the Government is using its extension machinery to increase the area under production by utilising the rice fallow areas.
Production was 9.24 lakh MT during 2016-17 and is estimated to be 9.67 lakh MT during 2017-18. The target for 2018-19 has been kept at 9.99 lakh MT.
Jute is an important cash crop of Bengal, covering an area of around 5.22 lakh hectares (ha). During 2016-17, the production and productivity were 81.87lakh bales and 15.67 bales/ha, respectively. The target for area under production and production for 2017-18 were 5.6 lakh ha and 84 lakh bales, respectively.
The State Government, in collaboration with the National Food Security Mission (Commercial Crops) – Jute, runs Demonstration Centres, and supports the distribution of quality seeds and training of farmers with the aim of producing higher quality fibres.
Potato is a major crop in the state. The production and productivity during 2016-17 were 129.32 lakh MT and 30,608 kg/ha, respectively.
For 2017-18, the targets for area under production and production have been kept at 4.36 lakh ha and 140 lakh MT, respectively. Emphasis has been given on the availability of disease-free quality micro-tubers.
For this, the government has undertaken a programme for the production of good quality foundation seeds of potato from breeder seeds in government farms, so that high-quality seeds are available for the production of certified seeds.
Courtesy Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress Government, farmers have never had it as good.
Every aspect of their lives has undergone a lot of changes. There are schemes to cover everything – from production to storage to financial aid for losses due to natural calamities to several other aspects.
UNI SJC KK