Chapter - One: Agriculture and Allied Activities I. AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED ACTIVITIES A. Agriculture a) The target fixed by Govt. of India for agricultural growth at 4% for the State of West Bengal which is around 3.5% now. Considering the agro-climatic condition, infrastructure, resources etc. the projected foodgrains production growth rate has been revised and fixed at 4.5% during XIth plan period. Previously the average foodgrains productivity growth was calculated taking into account Xth plan average productivity and XIth plan projected average productivity and which was projected 5.91% i.e. around 6% and production growth was calculated considering the production of 2011-12 (The last year of XIth plan) and present level of production (which was around 160 lakh tonnes) which was around 15%. However, all the data are revised for Xlth plan period and the strategy for achieving new growth rate are sending for consideration along with revised target. The production of foodgrains will be increased due to increase of cropping intensity. b) Discussion on Food Security West Bengal is surplus in production of rice but there are deficits in the production of wheat and pulses. The requirement of foodgrains during 2006-07 was around 168.39 lakh M.T. and the production was 159.75 lakh M.T. The deficit was mainly due to less production of wheat and pulses. Keeping this in mind various state plan and Centrally Sponsored Scheme will be in operation during eleventh plan period. National Food Security Mission has been started across 12 districts of the State to boost up the production of wheat, pulses and rice. Apart from this hybrid rice seed production programme, Integrated pulses, Oilseed production programme, dryland/rainfed crop production programme and special area development programme are in operation also. By the end of eleventh plan period the projected production of foodgrain is 200 .57 lakh metric tonnes against the requirement of 176.67 lakh M.T. The target of rice, wheat and pulse production are 184.39 lakh M.T. 10.69 lakh M.T., 2.41 lakh M.T. respectively. The over all seed replacement rate is projected 33%. The target is fixed at 100% coverage with improved/high yielding/Hybrid variety of different foodgrain crops. Programme has also been taken to renovate Govt. Seed Farms, Commodity Research Stations and meteorological observatories etc. Soil & Water Conservation measures including construction of water harvesting structures also come under the purview of sustainable agricultural development to maintain food security of the State. Foodgrins production Year Population (lakh) Foodgrain requirement (Target) 2006-07 857.68 168.39 159.75 (achieved) 2007-08 866.59 170.14 162. 94 (Target) 2008-09 875.06 171.80 175.54 (Target) 2009-10 883.35 173.43 183.52 (Target) 2010-11 891.58 175.05 19 1.86 (Target) 2011-12 899.87 176.67 200.57 (Target) Chapter - One: Agriculture and Allied Activities 1.1. CROP HUSBANDRY 1.1.1 Programme of the Agriculture Department The State of West Bengal has great natural resources and an advantage of six agro-climatic regions, fertile soil of vast biodiversity and consistent irrigation facilities. The importance of agriculture in the State’s economy is reflected by its contribution of about 20% to the total SDP (at constant price) and by its support to employment of nearly 58% of its rural work force. For the 11th Five Year Plan the growth rate of the Agriculture and allied sector has been projected around 4% per annum. This is a challenging task though the annual average growth rate in foodgrain production in the State during 1993-94 to 2003-04 was 2.22% as against all India growth rate of 0.83%, 2.74% in Haryana and 1.98% in Punjab. Considering erratic weather conditions natural vagaries and other constraints, all efforts are being given for full realization of agricultural production potential in order to keep agricultural production in tandem with the demand for foodgrains etc. Out of 335 agricultural blocks in the State, 172 blocks spread over from Teesta Terai flood prone zone in the north to the coastal area in the south and undulated lateritic area in the west, are low in productivity. Apart from that the area and productivity of pulse and oilseed crops are low and there is scope to improve upon. Greater thrust will also be given to commercial crops like cotton, jute and other fibre crops. The extension and advisory service making use of IT will be made available to the farmers. For supporting farmers in natural calamities proper work plan has been envisaged. Emphasis is being laid on capacity build of SC, ST, minorities and women. Decentralised planning process will be followed. Guidelines regarding women empowerment, minorities & skill development will be followed. Almost all the schemes are beneficiary-oriented. Special emphasis will be given to the selection of minority beneficiaries as per guidelines of the Minority Development Department. Seed : The aim for the Xlth plan period is to replace total seeds @ 33.3%. About 150 numbers of State seed farms will be revitalized/modernized in a phased manner during this period. Fertiliser: Fertiliser Control Laboratories & Soil Testing Laboratories will be modernised/renovated during the plan period. Plant Protection : A sum of rupees Rs. 127.50 lakhs has been proposed during this plan period for conducting Bio-village Demonstration Camp and development of Bio-control laboratory for promoting integrated pest management. Training & Skill Development : For skill development and capacity building of farmers specially women, scheduled castes and tribes, separate schemes/components have been envisaged for Agricultural Training on farm women during this plan.. During Xlth plan period it has been proposed to train up around 14,000 farmers on modern agricultural technology and about 556 numbers of officials on refresher training. Soil Conservation/Soil Survey & Testing and natural resource management : In the State of West Bengal 21.91 lakh ha. non forest area i.e. around 29% of the States geographical area is susceptible to various kinds of land degradation and erosion. Agriculture is the largest user of soil and water resources, which is critical to sustainable development. During 11th plan period 50 nos. of new watersheds have been proposed for development of 28000 ha of land. Scheme for extension of soil conservation work on wastelands, agricultural lands on watershed 6 Chapter - One: Agriculture and Allied Activities basis in plains and hills, and establishment of Central Remote Sensing Laboratory are being continued with a proposed outlay of Rs.122.50 lakhs. Agricultural Development of dryland/lateritic soil/Hill areas For upliftment of socio-economic status of the farmers under dry and lateritic zone a scheme Diversified Cropping Programme Dryland/Rainfed condition is being implemented. Crop demonstration on pulses and oilseeds, farmers, training etc. will be organized as a part of the working plan. In tribal people dominated area a special problem area schemes will be executed during the plan period. For development of hill areas a sum of Rs.435.00 lakhs has been proposed for crop demonstration, farmers field school, vermi-compost pit preparation, implements/sprinkler (for irrigation) distribution etc. in three hilly sub-division and Rs. 250 lakhs for non-hill areas. Research and Development For infrastructural development of agricultural research apart from continuing schemes of the Xth plan two new schemes Development of Zonal Adaptive Research Station & Development of Commodity Research Stations of the State have been taken up.. During XIth plan period thrust will be given on evolving super rice/hybrid rice, rice fortified with Zinc & iron, research on suitable pulse and oilseed varieties, potato tissue culture, short duration wheat varieties etc. will be emphasized. Extension Reforms As per National Agricultural policy for revitalization and reformation of Agricultural extension system a Centrally Sponsored scheme ‘Support to State Extension programme for extension reforms’ has been initiated in six districts since the year 2005-06. During 2007-08 this scheme is being operated in all the eighteen agricultural districts of the State. Around 20 Nos. of National & International Training Courses, about 31 exposure visits of extension functionaries,67813 Nos. farmers training and 122 nos. field days for farmers & 6 Nos. of district level exhibition/Kishan Mela etc. will be organized during this financial year. Such programme will be continued in 18 districts during the entire XIth plan period. Project proposed for enhancing foodgrains production in the State of West Bengal To keep pace with the increasing demand for food by the growing population as well as to ensure food security there is need for enhancing foodgrains production and productivity in the State. Accordingly a project proposal has been prepared and submitted to concerned authority with an objective of raising productivity of 172 blocks with lower productivity of State average and of remaining 153 blocks having productivity more or equal to State average by 12.5% over a period of five years. For which a proposal for an additional fund has already been submitted to the G.O.I. matching share of which will have to be provided under the Plan Sector. The amount will be around Rs.150.00 crores every year, if the proposal be approved by the G.O.I. Under State Plan a new scheme in the name of ‘Subsidy to the farmers for purchasing hybrid seeds’ has been envisaged in the light of the above mentioned endeavour, in addition to the existing schemes. The Central Statistical Organisation in its recent study on the average growth rate of Agricultural production of all the states during the period 1993-94 to 2003-04 found out that all the states taken together, average rate of growth of Gross State Domestic Product has been 1.53% during that period, whereas for West Bengal during the same period it has been 3.54%.