Enhancing Food and Nutritional Security and Improved Livelihood through Intensification of Rice Fallow System with Pulse Crop in South Asia-- a time-bound farmers' friendly project funded by international repute organizations; ICARDA & IFAD, has been in operation in the state of West Bengal under the umbrella of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya. The main objectives of this project aims at increasing area, production and productivity of pulses and incorporating pulse based farming systems with technological intervention in backward and stressed areas of the state. Last year this project covered Paschimanchal, Sundarbans and parts of alluvium regions covering more than thousand stakeholders. Major emphasis was given to the dry-tracts of the state including a good number of blocks of Paschimanchal falling under Paschimanchal.
Considering tremendous response from the farming community Prof. Rajib Nath- the Project Co-ordinator has targeted Bankura district with larger areas annexing more blocks in the coming rabi-season. Accordingly, one day interactive session cum workshop was held in Bankura headquarters on 4th September 2017.
A team of Scientists and Scholars of BCKV led by Prof.Rajib Nath started journey towards Bankura on 3rd Sep. from Kalyani in the morning. The team halted at different spots of the district while on move, observed topography, standing paddy crops, and other criteria for pulse possibilities in the stressed areas. On the spot interactions with locals were also held at G.Ghati and Chhatna blocks. A new area dominated by tribal in Chhatna block was studied. Tribal leaders of the village Gurputa were interacted . Across discussion members of the Farmers club were invited to join in the scheduled workshop at Bankura.
The venue of the scientist-farmer interactive workshop was at Krishi Bhawvan. Joint Director of Bankura range arranged logistic facilities for the event. Moreover, he requested agricultural officials of different blocks of the district to share during workshop.
More than eighty farmers representing Chhatna, Bankura-2, G,Ghati, Raipur, Ranibandh and Simlapal assembled in the program. Many of them were mouthpieces of Farmer's clubs, Co-operatives, Local NGOs and farmers-friendly bodies.
In the beginning Prof. Rajib Nath introduced the house with the objectives and mission of the pulse-project. A brief on the plan of action was presented to the stakeholders.
Dr.D.D. Patra, Vice Chancellor of BCKV inaugurated the workshop and Prof. A.Mitra, former Director of Research presidedover the function. Incidentally, both Dr.Patra and Prof.Mitra are son of the soils of Bankura.
Vice Chancellor in his majestic speech pointed to the opportunities of growing pulses in the present scenario of farming. According to him pulses could be incorporated as a relay pattern or as mixed crop with winter vegetables or other crops. Further, he highlighted cost-effectiveness of pulse growing and its power of soil improvement properties in terms of adding nitrogen in the soil. In his address he cautioned them for using indiscriminate and excessive fertilizers in the soils. The merits of using bio-fertlizers, balanced nutrients and suitable cropping pattern were addressed by him. He emphasized for inclusion of at least one pulse to mitigate soil degradation.
Rammoy Patra, Former Dy.Director of Bankura, Agril.Department requested the participant-farmers to grow pulses instead of potato as the latter's market is volatile and potato involves much expenditures. He also discussed on the nutritive deficiency of rural people and advocated pulses to mitigate it. According to Patra farmers could fetch more prices if milling is done.
Bidyut Das presented a synoptic agricultural status of the district.He lamented for the sordid position of pulses in the state . According to him pulses are grown in the marginal lands without care. In his deliberation he mentioned the various socio-economic constraints of pulse growing and urged for collaborative drive in a convergent mode.
Sadananda Maharaj graced the occasion and welcomed BCKV-project officials for its mission in the district as well as in G.Ghati.
Sri Pachanan Layek a progressive farmer of the Chhatna block cited his experience of pulse-growing in his cluster. According to him BCKV intervention ,particularly the replacement cultivars of Khesari and Chick-pea yielded more than expectation as well as average yield of the area. However, musur yield was not as high as the other types. Low yield performance of musur in Bankura district was discussed. Prof. Somenath Bhattacharyya pointed out the reason of late sowing as one of the major causes.. In Bankura farmers normally harvest their paddy in late comparing to Gangetic regions. He advocated for growing short term paddy cultivars so that lentil could be sown by October .
Prof. Rajib Nath in his deliberation discussed on the importance of pulse-growing to mitigate hungerm malnutrition and poverty. From last year's records he mentioned the hopeful perspective of pulses in Bankura district. He shared his in situ experience of cluster visit . According to him some minor changes in the technique of the production could give better results in terms of yield. He stressed for appropriate variety, rhizome uses and management practices for higher yield.
Dr. Binoy Saren, Visva Bharati discussed in length on the scientific cultivation process of pulses. In his long speech he pointed to the issues of (a) varietal choice, (b) seed treatment and seed priming, (c)plant protection, (d)weeding and harbicide use, (e) life saving irrigation and (e) pest management.
Dr.Tapas Biswas discussed on the importance of using organic manures and bio-fertilizers. The technique of using rhizobium was shown to the participants with visual aids.. Merits of organic pulse growing was discussed in course of deliberation.
Next, Dr. Raju Das interacted and shared with the house in pest-management practices. Farmers' queries were answered by him. Dr. Das asked them not to rely on retailers or dealers for pest control . According to him they need to identify the diseases, pests with the support of technical persons or experts to overcome unnecessary costs.
Prof. Somnath Bhattacharyya nicely conducted the interactive session and recorded the points of intervention in the coming days.
Prof, Mitra summarized the proceedings and Prof. Bhattacharyya gave vote of thanks.
