State ropes in research scholars from agricultural varsities to increase foodgrain productivity

Kolkata: Bengal government has roped in research scholars from various agricultural universities in order to increase productivity of rice and other foodgrains.

The research wing of the state Agriculture department has tied up with two state-owned agricultural universities — Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya and Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya to carry out the research work.

One of the main objectives of the initiative is to help farmers on how to sow seeds in a more scientific way.

According to a senior official of the state Agriculture department, assistance from researchers will ensure an increase in agricultural produce in the state.

The officials of the department will hold meetings with the researchers at regular intervals to determine future steps that are needed to be taken with regard to the same. The Agricultural department is also preparing a road map to ensure that the suggested steps are taken into account. Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya and Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya will provide assistance to the department to make the project happen.

According to the Agriculture department, overall paddy cultivation has increased in the state in the past couple of years due to the introduction of various social schemes for the farmers. It may be mentioned that the Agriculture department has been providing various seeds including that of aromatic rice among the farmers in some districts. The department has plans to cultivate various varieties of aromatic rice like Tulaipanji and Gobindabhog throughout the state in near future.

The department is also exploring the possibility of cultivating Kalo Nunia and black rice on a large-scale. The department also has plans to cultivate other varieties of rice throughout the state.

The research scholars of the universities will provide guidelines to the department.

Bengal government has introduced vocational training courses in different aspects of agriculture, such as soil testing and other things to widen the options of job-oriented skill development programmes.

It has already increased the income of farmers three times.

A senior official in the Agriculture department said it will be immensely helpful to the youths of the state as it will create job opportunities.

The agricultural produce in Bengal has gone up due to several steps taken by the Mamata Banerjee government in the past six years. The state has also bagged the "Krishi Karman Award" from the Centre for the fifth consecutive year.