Net income of farmers increased by 75% under govt

The State government’s step to promote “market demand led farming” has helped to increase the net income of the farmers by 75 per cent in the past 4 years.

It may be mentioned that West Bengal government has bagged the Centre’s Krishi Karman Award for the four consecutive years for the sustainable improvement in the agricultural sector in the state.

Soon after coming to power the State government had given stress in bringing a boom in the agriculture sector and steps were taken to increase the area of cultivation and production of crops. 

Besides paddy, stress was also given to increase the production of oilseeds, maize and pulses. According to a senior official of the State Agriculture department, market demand led farming is the need of the hour. Farmers would gain nothing if they are not directed what to produce at a particular season and how to yield a better crop. “The most important aspect is that whether income of a farmer is going up and to ensure that they are not getting deprived of the right amount they are suppose to get for the crop,” the official said.

The steps had not only brought a change in the scenario for the farmers, but the wages of agricultural labourers had also gone up.  According to a State government official, the income of the labourers those work in someone else’s farm has become double in the past four years. 

Arrangements were made to provide training to farmers on modern technology for farming. Around 13 lakh farmers were brought under various training programmes that include demonstration on certified seeds and modern machineries. Krsihi Mela, which was organised in every block, was of immense help to the farmers as it had given a platform to them to interact with experts in farming. 

Mati Utsav inaugurated by the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee since she came to power in 2014 had helped the farmers as hundreds of farmers were awarded for their extraordinary work and awareness were created among farmers to let them know details about the projects that the State government had taken up for them in the past four years. 

The attempt of the State government has also helped to increase average yearly income of each family.