Bengal bags Krishi Karman Award 5th time in row

Bengal has yet again bagged the Centre's Krishi Karman Award for the fifth consecutive year for excellence in agriculture.

Congratulating farmers of the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's post on Facebook on Wednesday read: "Bengal has done it again! For the fifth time in a row, Bengal has again bagged the prestigious "Krishi Karman Award" of the Government of India for excellence in agriculture."

She maintained: "In spite of the devastating floods of 2015-16, our state has achieved spectacular growth in pulses production while sustaining overall growth in food production. I dedicate this wonderful achievement to all my farmer brothers and sisters. My best wishes to all."

Banerjee received the good news when she was addressing a rally in Domkal on Wednesday.

It may be mentioned that Bengal had bagged the Krishi Karman Puroskar last year for the increase in the cultivation of food grains and oil seeds in the 2014-15 fiscal.

Like the previous year, the Agriculture department will be getting a prize money of Rs 2 crore for bagging the Krishi Karman Puroskar and two farmers from the state – one male and one female- will be getting Rs 2 lakh each for their remarkable performance in the agriculture sector.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be handing over the award to the delegation comprising senior officials of the Agriculture department.

In the 2013-14 fiscal, the state had bagged the award for the increase in production of coarse cereals and a sharp rise in production and increase in area of maize cultivation. Similarly, in 2011-12 and 2012-13 financial year, too, the state had bagged the award for the increase in cultivation of coarse cereals. In the past few years, there was a manifold increase in production of food grains and oil seeds. Major steps were taken to bring in more agricultural land for oil seed cultivation.