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HomePosts Tagged "West Bengal"
AgroPolicy, Horticulture, Supply Chain, Trade

The government is taking steps to control inflation and meet the demand and check the prices of tomatoes in India

Nirmala Sitharaman Finance Minister (FM) informed the Parliament that the government is importing tomatoes from Nepal due to a record-high spike in prices in the country.

The minister said that the government is taking steps to control inflation and meet the demand and check the prices of tomatoes in India, it has decided to import them from its neighbour, Nepal. Sitharaman was participating in a debate on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha. As per her, the government has removed import restrictions and the first lot of tomatoes from Nepal will reach Varanasi, Kanpur, Lucknow this week.

Sitharaman also said that through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and other cooperative societies, the government has been procuring tomatoes from Maharashtra and Karnataka. These tomatoes are then distributed in Delhi-NCR, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan at subsidised rates. The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd. has distributed 8.84 lakh kg of tomatoes in the aforementioned states. The finance minister added that the wholesale prices of tomatoes in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are already coming down.

Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Tamil Nadu are the major tomato-producing states in the country. These states account for 91 per cent of the total production of the country, said FM.

The government is taking steps to control

AgroPolicy, Animal Health, Dairy, India, Live Stock

Around 400 unvaccinated cattle in Darjeeling and 2000 in Kalimpong were infected out of which 200 and 1200 respectively have already recovered

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, AH and Dairying acts promptly to address concerns of livestock farmers of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal, as suspected cases of LSD (Lumpy Skin Disease), a devastating disease of Cattle and Buffaloes are reported.

Parshottam Rupala Union Cabinet Minister for the FAHD directed for prompt action on the letter of the Member of Parliament from Darjeeling Raju Bista about his concerns on the reports of rising cases of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Kalimpong and Darjeeling districts of West Bengal.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GoI responded swiftly and has taken all necessary steps for providing technical and financial support in close coordination with State and district officials of AHD.

As per the verifications from the field, there are no deaths of cattle due to LSD in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Around 400 unvaccinated cattle in Darjeeling and 2000 in Kalimpong were infected out of which 200 and 1200 respectively have already recovered. Treatment of other infected cattle is underway including ring vaccination of cattle in affected areas to check the spread of the disease. There are no reports of LSD in sheep/goats in both the districts and the infection is reported mainly in unvaccinated cattle. However, the situation is under control.

The Department has been implementing various measures for the control of the disease which are under Surveillance, The Department has already formulated the surveillance strategy through Exit Plan and circulated it to all the states. Diagnostic facilities are readily available in the region and Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL), Kolkatta has been authorised and financially supported for surveillance of cattle through PCR testing of LSD and the same was communicated to the state.

Around 400 unvaccinated cattle in Darjeeling and

AgroPolicy, India, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting

The government gave subsidies to the tune of Rs 59.28 crore in 2022-23

West Bengal agriculture department has distributed 13,554 farm types of machinery, under Farm Mechanisation Scheme and has given subsidies to Rs 59.28 crore in 2022-23.

Forty-seven combine harvesters, 102 tractors, 2,567 power tillers, 228 solar pump sets, 144 multi-crop threshers, 23 maize shellers, 12 rice transplanters, 1249 rotavators, 690 power weeders, 39 potato diggers, 21 mini oil mills and 180 mini rice mills.

Since its inception in 2011-12, 4.9 lakh farm machinery have been distributed with subsidies worth Rs 830.28 crore under the Farm Mechanisation Scheme.

The use of solar pumps has increased. The extent of crop loss during natural calamities has been reduced.

For maintenance and repair of hi-tech farm machinery like combine harvesters, rice transplanters, tractors and power tillers, the government has established a residential training centre,

Matigantha in East Burdwan district. Already, 365 persons have been given training at Matigantha till March 31, 2023.

The government gave subsidies to the tune

AgroPolicy, Floriculture, India, Oilseeds, People, Sustainability

If the state can grow poppies, people will get them at Rs 100 (per kg), instead of Rs 1,000.

Mamata Banerjee Chief Minister of West Bengal has urged the Centre government to allow poppy cultivation in the state. She insists that delicacies prepared with its seeds are integral to Bengali cuisine. Mamata was speaking on budget discussions relating to the food and supplies department.

According to Banerjee, poppy seeds are costly as it is cultivated only in a few states. Why should it be cultivated in only four states? Why not in West Bengal, despite it being on the Bengali menu every day? People are purchasing posto or poppy from other states at high prices. West Bengal should get permission for its cultivation. The state has been trying to get permission for the cultivation of the highly-regulated crop.

Banerjee said the state will cultivate it in agricultural farms. If the state can grow poppies, people will get them at Rs 100 (per kg), instead of Rs 1,000. The decisions have to take unanimously.

If the state can grow poppies, people

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, Environment, India, People, Sustainability

The main objectives of Sagar Parikrama are to disseminate information on various fisheries-related schemes and programs being implemented by the government

Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, starts the Sagar Parikrama Phase-III from Hazira Port, Gujarat, and proceeds towards the coastal line of Maharashtra at Satpati, Vasai, Versova, and Parikrama will end at Sasson Dock, Mumbai.

The main objectives of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ are to facilitate interaction with fishermen, coastal communities and stakeholders so as to disseminate information on various fisheries-related schemes and programs being implemented by the Government; demonstrate solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholder as a spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, to promote responsible fisheries with focus on the sustainable balance between the utilisation of marine fisheries resources for food security of nation and livelihoods of coastal fisher communities and protection of marine ecosystems.

The journey of Sagar Parikrama focuses on the sustainable balance between the utilisation of marine fisheries resources for the food security of the nation and livelihoods of coastal fisher communities and the protection of marine ecosystems, to bridge the gaps of fisher communities, and their expectations, development of fishing villages, upgradation and creation of infrastructure such as fishing harbours & landing centres to ensure sustainable and responsible development through an ecosystem approach.

The Sagar Parikrama program is celebrated in all coastal States/UTs through a pre-decided sea route down right from Gujarat, Diu, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands to have interaction program with fishermen, fisher communities and stakeholders in these locations to know the problems of Coastal Fisher folk. A holistic approach has been adopted to improve the quality of life and economic well-being of fishers and fishermen in rural areas and create more livelihood opportunities.

The main objectives of Sagar Parikrama are

Agrotech, Company News, Horticulture

The foundation helped set up the necessary infrastructure for the crop and imparted the training to farmers to grow the fruit.

 As many as 35 farmers from Farakka in West Bengal have each made over Rs.1 lakh in profits by switching to strawberry cultivation. The crop was introduced to the agrarians by Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Ambuja Cements Ltd., in partnership with IndusInd Bank, as part of a pilot project in 2020-21.

The foundation helped set up the necessary infrastructure for the crop and imparted the training to farmers to grow the fruit. The objective behind the intervention was to raise farmers’ income.

Marketing was an important item on the agenda, so the foundation initiated a market survey. At first, they visited local retail fruit shops and markets and contacted shopping malls in peripheral areas. It later initiated discussions across locations to explore the market.

Considering that strawberry is a perishable product, the foundation scouted for a more tolerable variety that lasts long and offers improved yields. The farmers, it was observed, had become adept at growing strawberries. A year ago, some farmers were urged to take up strawberry cultivation and the learnings from it was that it could help them earn a lump sum within 2-3 months. As a result, ACF decided to scale up strawberry production. An order of 40,000 plants was placed for 35 farmers, with the number of plants ordered being four times last year.

 Neeraj Akhoury, CEO India Holcim and Managing Director & CEO of Ambuja Cements Ltd., said, “We observed that the people living in rural areas need greater access to economic development. This is more so in the case of our agrarians—a majority of who are fragmented and landless. Economic development of our farmers can end poverty in India’s hinterland. Our focus was to target farmers with assured irrigation and other facilities so that they can earn their livelihood.”

The foundation helped set up the necessary

Agro Universities, Live Stock

More than 200 scientists, academicians, officers of ICAR Institutes attended the meet

The ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, Haryana organised a virtual interface meeting for West Bengal on ‘Characterization and Documentation of Animal Genetic Resources of West Bengal: A Mission towards Zero Non-Descript Populations’ in Karnal recently.
The meet was organised under the ‘Mission towards Zero Non-Descript AnGR of India.’

Prof Chanchal Guha, Vice-Chancellor, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, West Bengal highlighted the significance of AnGR Characterization and Conservation. He also urged for the collaboration of all the related agencies in documenting AnGR in the State.

Prof Tapan Kumar Madal, Director of Research Extension and Farms, WBUAFS, West Bengal highlighted the activities carried out by the University for the Improvement and Conservation of AnGR of West Bengal.

Dr Yograj Tamang, Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Government of West Bengal underlined the activities of the animal resource development.

Dr Subhransu Pan, Former Professor & Head LPM, WBUAFS, West Bengal outlined the present status of the AnGR of West Bengal and highlighted the probable Non-Descript Population to be worked on.

Earlier, welcoming the dignitaries, Dr BP Mishra, Director, ICAR-NBAGR, Karnal, Haryana outlined the priorities of the bureau for managing the native AnGR in the country.

More than 200 scientists, academicians, officers of ICAR Institutes, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences and Animal Resource Development Department, Government of West Bengal, etc., attended the meet.

More than 200 scientists, academicians, officers of

Environment, Interaction

The campaign aimed at sensitising the fishers and creating awareness on the climate-smart fisheries management in the changing climate scenario.

The ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata organised the campaign on “Climate-Smart Inland Fisheries in Coastal Wetland, West Bengal” at the Coastal Wetlands of Bermajur – 1 Village, Sandeshkhali – 2 Block of Sundarbans, West Bengal on December 29, 2021.

Dr Uttam Kumar Sarkar, Principal Investigator, NICRA & HoD, Reservoir and Wetland Fisheries Division, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore highlighted the various issues and innovative adaptation strategies for managing the fisheries of the coastal wetland.

Tapan Sardar, Gram Pradhan, Bermajur – 1, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal appreciated the Institute’s initiative for the development of the Scheduled Caste community through the climate-smart fisheries.

The campaign aimed at sensitising the fishers and creating awareness on the climate-smart fisheries management in the changing climate scenario registered participation by 70 Scheduled Caste Fishers including 20 women.

The campaign aimed at sensitising the fishers