Kolkata, July 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), state-run agricultural universities in West Bengal, and agricultural scientists are jointly preparing a scientific agriculture roadmap for West Bengal, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said here on Tuesday.
During the day, he first chaired a high-level review meeting in Kolkata along with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. After the meeting, while addressing a joint press conference along with the chief minister, Chouhan announced the plans for preparing a scientific agriculture roadmap for West Bengal.
The Union minister said the roadmap will identify region-specific crop planning based on agro-climatic conditions, soil characteristics, water availability and local resources, while recommending appropriate technologies and value-chain models to maximise agricultural productivity. He added that efforts are underway to develop rice research institutions into centres of excellence, enabling West Bengal to emerge as a research-driven model in crops such as rice, potato and maize.
Speaking on the occasion, he also announced that farmers across West Bengal will be brought under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana on a much larger scale to ensure protection against crop losses arising from natural calamities.
Chouhan said access to the Kisan Credit Card in West Bengal remains limited. Hence, village-level camps in collaboration with NABARD and banks will be organised to expand KCC coverage, ensuring farmers receive affordable institutional credit and reducing dependence on informal lenders. He added that initiatives such as the National Mission on Natural Farming, PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, Digital Agritech and nutrition enhancement programmes will significantly transform West Bengal's agricultural landscape.
Speaking on the occasion, he announced that under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, enhanced financial support will be offered to women-run self-help groups (SHGs) in West Bengal. The package includes Rs 245 crore in bank credit and Rs 50 crore under the Community Investment Fund.
Chouhan said rural women across West Bengal are transforming household economies through savings, credit and micro-enterprises. He added that the additional financial assistance will strengthen their participation in production, processing, value addition and marketing, thereby creating new livelihood opportunities and enhancing rural incomes.
Speaking on the occasion, he also said an interim approval for one lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin for West Bengal had been granted, and Rs 12,064 crore for Rural Development and Employment Security under the VB-G RAM G framework had been sanctioned.
Source: IANS
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