State Level Workshop on Pulses

 Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya- the premier agricultural university of the state  has  successfully been implementing the project  Enhancing Pulses Production for food and National security ,Improved Livelihoods and Sustaiable Agriculture in West Bengal . This is a collaborative  project with  financial support from ICARD & IFDA  and  in operation since 2012.  Last year it covered  more than  thousand  beneficiaries spread over five districts   of the state.  Primary focus was given to the disadvantaged  areas of Paschimanchal and Coastal areas.  Keeping  parity with the  mandates of the project, BCKV unit has relentlessly been  in touch with the grass-root levels through its inbuilt network.  Accordingly, Prof. Rajib Nath, the Chief  of the project  organized  seven regional  workshops  at different location specific areas .  In those workshops  farmers  shared their experience, discussed on technological issues  and  received tips from a brand of  of pulse-scientists of multi-disciplines.

Finally,  130  target   pulse-followers  from  different parts of the state were called on 12th October at the Research Directorate of BCKV  with the following objectives:

• Planning and  and drawing strategic  measures for launching massive action plan in the state, particularly in Bankura and Purulia for the ensuing rabi-season
•  Renewing  past experience  and noting down  the grey areas of intervention
•  Imparting  lessons on measuring carbon-soil with handy kits
• Displaying value added products from pulses and  market arrangements
•  Moduling convergence  action plan for pulse mission 

 Prior to the workshop  Prof. Rajib Nath  discussed with the participants  on 11th  evening and  across informal discussion delineated  the issues relating to  above for  brain storming session on the day of Workshop.







Participants  from  Banura, Purulia, North 24-Pgs, South 24 Pgs.  and Hoogly  assembled in the P.C. Roy  auditorium at the Directorate of Research Complex,BCKV in time.  A good number of Women representatives  from Sagar and Purulia  came despite incessant rains and storms in their areas.   This year new areas have been annexed to the operational areas. Thus,  farmer-representatives  from  Hingalgaunge,  Gosaba and Bali Islands  were also invited.  Participants belonged to different sectors ranging from Co-operative  , NGOs, rural clubs, Farmers clubs, self help groups etc.  A sizeable tribal also  represented  in the workshop.

Prof. D.D. Patra, Vice Chancellor     of BCKV   inaugurated the workshop and Prof. Arabinda Mitra, Former Director of Research presided over the session.

In the beginning Dr. Sumana Roy, DDR of BCKV welcomed the guests on behalf of BCKV.  In her address she  highlighted   about the performance of the Pulse mission project  and   wished its success in the state .
Thereafter, Vice Chancellor  focused on  the yield gap  of pulses  in our state.  The points of gap according to him  have been our tradition outlook for pulses, worst lands  allocated for pulses,  unscientific mode of  cultivation,  disproportionate as well as discriminate use of fertilizers,.
In his majestic speech he pointed out the possibilities of growing pulses in rice fallow lands or as mixed cropping practices.  Dr.Patra also stressed on the value-addition  aspects of pulses.

Next,  Sudhibrata Mitra, Director of Farms cited a good number of commonly falter practices of pulses and  showed the minimal intervention which could augment  production.  Dr.Mitra  requested the members for quality seed production and reminded to grow pulses according to local situation, and variety in use. According to him a balanced  fertilizer doses and using bio-fertilizer will save cost of cultivation.

In a sensitive lecture Prof.Rajib Nath  discussed at length on the global poverty, malnutrition  and poor livelihood.  In above context  Prof. Nath  echoed the role of pulses for safe livelihood of rural households.  He also briefed the house  on the functioning of the project, its mission and future perspectives.  It was known from his deliberation that yield of pulses improved substantially in the cluster  levels with minimal intervention.  He categorically pointed out to target rice-fallow lands under pulse cultivation. Apart,  he  stressed on women participation  for value addition  and marketing.

Prof, Kajal sengupta, Head Department of Agronomy  in his long and lively deliberation  pointed out  the grey areas of current practices by farmers and sought intervention for change.  A number of tips for  pulse farming were recorded.

After the inaugural session Dr.D.D.Patra ,Vice Chancellor   unveiled  value added products from pulses done under the initiatives of pulse mission project. Vice Chancellor uttered that  henceforth cleaned qualitative and unadulterated pulses and pulse products could be available at BCKV outlets at Mohanpur.   

 In the technical session , Dr.Tapas Biswas  discussed on organic based pulse growing.  In a gesture, Prof. Somnath Bhattacharyya  brought  carbon-soil testing kits for the representative farmers . These were sponsored by BARC.  Demonstration on using kits was given by Dr.Biswas.
It was followed by Dr.Kalyan Jana's   discussion  on pyra-system of farming with pulses. Benefits of the system were dealt in details.  Dr. Amitava Bhattacharryya and Dr.Raju Das jointly  discussed in an interactive  manner  with the participants. Their focus was on pest and diseases of pulses.   Bio-control and cultural control measures  were discussed to the points raised by participants. Prof. Raghunath Sadhukhan   interacted with the farming community. Dr.Sadhukhan  prescribed a number of suggestions to the queries of house regarding pulse-growing.

Immediate after the interval soil-carbon kits were distributed to the selected representatives.



Dr.Arpita Das, Scientist  gave vote of thanks to the participants.

The workshop ended with pleasant sharing and Prof. Rajibnath noted the salient points for future plan of action.
The whole program was nicely coordinated by Dr. Amitava Biswas, BCKV.