Modern agro-science technologies to be used for better cultivation

The state agriculture department will introduce modern agro-science based technologies for better cultivation in the 997 acres of land in Singur in consultation with farmers to develop a new arena of agro-economy.

Purnendu Basu, the state agriculture minister, said: “There are enough possibilities of developing an arena of agro-economy in Singur after gaining confidence of the farmers. Accordingly, the state government has chalked out a detailed plan following consultation with agro-scientists and it would be implemented in proper consultation of the farmers.”

The state government will be providing all sorts of support to the farmers until the first crop is harvested. If everything goes as planned then training on modern technologies will be given to the farmers that expectedly would help in a better growth in economy for the cultivators in Singur.

The farmers in Singur will no more remain stuck to cultivating only paddy and potato. But “combined cultivation” of different types of crops using modern technologies would show a new direction to the agriculture sector in the state. At the same time market based cultivation keeping in mind the agro-based industries would also be proposed to the farmers.

It may be mentioned that the land that was acquired for industrialisation would now be used to showcase that agriculture can also be equally economically viable.

Though it would take some more time, the state irrigation department would ensure sufficient supply of water for agriculture in the entire area and the panchayat department will also be completing a set of work that need to be done for the benefits of the farmers.

Based on the report of the soil tests, the agro-scientists would propose a set of techniques suitable for a particular plot and one will be implemented in consultation with farmers. Regular monitoring would be done to assist the farmers in using “controlled fertilisers” and right amount of water required for a particular crop. It would also be ensured that only tested seeds are used for a better cultivation.

Initially, the farmers in Singur have been recommended to cultivate spinach and mustard as it would help in preparing the soil for cultivation of potato. At the same time by cultivating spinach and mustard initially, the farmers would also start selling their produce within a month as it does not take more than 25 to 28 days to grow.

Keshab Karmakar, who got back his 1.5 bighas of land at Gopalnagar mouza, said that he had cultivated 152 bags of potato in the year 2006 when his land was acquired for the Tata’s Nano project. “Thus I am waiting for the time when I can cultivate potato as Hooghly district is one of leading producers of the staple food,” he said.

When asked about potato cultivation, the state agriculture minister said that usually a season is of two and a half month to three months. But the department would try to help the farmers to grow potato in a short span by the end of this season.