Strategies and technologies to be promoted to extend

Strategies and technologies to be promoted to extend Green Revolution for the states of U. P, Chattisgarh, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa. S. K. Sanyal Vice-Chancellor Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, PIN - 741252

WEST BENGAL : AN OVERVIEW Population (2001 census) Population Density Nos. of Agricultural Districts Nos. of Mouza / Village Geographical Area Agro-Climatic Zones Cultivable Area Net Area Sown Gross Cropped Area under non-agriculture used Forest area Current fallows Cultivable waste land Barren and un-culturable land : 8. 78 crore (1 st October, 2010) expected : 903/ Sq. Km. : 18 : 40782 : 88752 sq. km. : 6 Nos. : 8686639 ha : 52. 94 lakh ha : 98. 015 lakh ha : 17. 92 lakh ha : 11. 73 lakh ha : 2. 87 lakh ha : 0. 316 lakh ha : 0. 211 lakh ha Permanent posture and other grazing land Irrigated Area Total Nos. of Agricultural holdings Size of average Land Holding Cropping Intensity : 0. 0719 lakh ha : 62% of Net Cropped Area : 6953922 Nos : 0. 82 ha / Holding : 185% 2

Hill Zone (2. 4 to 8 lakh ha) Terai Zone (2. 149 lakh ha) Old Alluvial Zone (17. 537 lakh ha New Alluvial Zone (15. 304 lakh ha) Red and Laterite Zone (24. 842 lakh ha Coastal and Saline Zone (14. 569 lakh ha AGRO-CLIMATIC ZONES OF WEST BENGAL

Progress of agriculture production in West Bengal (1975 -76 to 2009 -10) 1975 -76 2009 -10 Percentage increase Production (lakh ton) Production growth index Rice 68. 66 100 148. 65 216 116 Food grain 85. 91 100 168. 26 190 90 Oilseeds 0. 78 100 7. 13 914 814 Potato 16. 15 100 95. 00 588 488 Jute 26. 86 100 93. 26 347 247 Crop

Annual growth rate of rice, food grain and populations in West Bengal (1970 -71 to 2008 -09) Year Population growth rate (%) Production of growth rate (%) Rice Food grains 1970 -71 to 1980 -81 2. 11 1. 33 0. 97 1980 -81 to 1990 -91 2. 23 6. 39 5. 80 1990 -91 to 2000 -01 1. 71 1. 93 2. 07 2000 -01 to 2008 -09 1. 78 1. 16 1. 04

Production and Requirement of Food grains in West Bengal 20000 17214. 06 18000 15058. 19 Thousand tonnes 16000 14000 12000 10000 14354. 30 12352. 29 16296. 79 9987. 53 10305. 00 8000. 59 8000 8970. 00 6000 4000 5741. 00 2000 Production 0 1967 -68 1977 -78 Requirement 1987 -88 1997 -98 2008 -09

Percentage share of area and production of Aus, Aman and Boro Rice in Total Rice in West Bengal during 2007 -08 Source: Agricultural Department, Government of West Bengal

The current status of productivity in the State vis-à-vis National Level (Yield rate in kg/ha. Jute – bales/ha) National level Crop State level Maximum yield* Average yield** Yield gap Rice 3944 2173 1771 3156 2566 590 Wheat 4370 2800 1570 2833 2458 375 Pulses 812 631 181 1054 731 323 Oilseeds 1784 1019 765 1515 914 601 Potato 26102 16617 9485 23860 15922 7938 Jute (bales/ha) 13. 76 11. 71 2. 05 17. 97 13. 69 4. 28 (* - Based on two years average; ** - Based on three years average (2006 -09). # - including mesta)

Present status of productivity gap of Rice in State as well as National level

Present status of productivity gap of Wheat in State as well as National level

Present status of productivity gap of Pulses in State as well as National level

Present status of productivity gap of Oilseeds in State as well as National level

Present status of productivity gap of Potato in State as well as National level

Yield (bales/ha) Present status of productivity gap of Jute in State as well as National level

o About 12 m ha of rain fed rice in the region are subject to vagaries of monsoon & occurrence of dry spells. o Single crop production enterprise in small holdings (0. 15 to 0. 30 ha) is not sustainable. o Lack of rain water conservation & ground water recharge. o Existence of soil acidity problems is about 50 lakh ha in WB, Jharkhand & Orissa. o Widespread deficiency of plant nutrients in soil (N, P, Zn, S & B). o Soil degradation in about 30% area. o Natural calamities – drought, flood, cyclone especially in coastal region. o Soil & water pollution with heavy metals (As, Fe & others)

Coverage 12 Districts (Mushidabad, Maldah, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Bardhaman, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata, Coochbehar, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur), Blocks 11 1 Level of 50 -3700 μg/l contamination Citation http: //www. soesju. org /arsenic/wb. html Arsenic contamination in West Bengal (Source: http: /www. soesju. org)

Arsenic Toxicity Symptoms • Increased incidence of Lung disease and Hypertension was found in arsenic exposed people compared to unexposed people. • High Arsenic (As) level in Urine & Hair has been observed in spite of intake of safe water. • Arsenical symptoms persist despite safe water intake for 5 years or more. • Significant Arsenic excretion occurs through urine and hair in these subjects. • Thus combined effect of high Arsenic in food & water have additive effect on Biomarkers & human health. Source: DNGM Research Foundation, 2009

Arsenic content in rice, vegetables and fruits at the study site (Arsenic affected area) Crop Arsenic (mg/kg) Paddy (Grain) 0. 10 -0. 89 Potato (Tuber) 0. 05 -1. 05 Wheat (Grain) 0. 45 -1. 08 Mustard (Seed) 1. 37 -1. 60 Sesame (Seed) 0. 31 -1. 02 Brinjal (Fruit) 1. 50 -2. 55 Pointed Gourd (Fruit) 1. 20 -3. 65 Kachu (Tuber) 11. 6 -33. 2 Cabbage (Head) 2. 50 -5. 60 Chilli (Fruit) 1. 05 -3. 80 Banana (Fruit) 1. 20 -4. 80 Papaya (Fruit) 1. 80 -5. 60

Low arsenic accumulating rice varieties and landraces suitable for arsenic contaminated area: IR 64, Khitish, Gobindabhog etc. Arsenic content (mg/kg) Kharif rice Genotypes Boro Rice Grain Brown rice Husk Choli 60 0. 120 0. 103 0. 044 0. 281 0. 240 0. 102 IR 36 0. 186 0. 165 0. 064 0. 394 0. 346 0. 135 IR 64 0. 240 0. 076 0. 184 0. 462 0. 146 0. 354 Palman 0. 806 0. 205 0. 657 1. 32 0. 336 1. 076 Rasi 0. 205 0. 132 0. 127 0. 526 0. 335 0. 321 Satabdi 0. 175 0. 201 0. 023 0. 421 0. 459 0. 052 TN 1 0. 213 0. 211 0. 062 0. 511 0. 505 0. 148 Khitish 0. 194 0. 179 0. 068 0. 346 0. 289 0. 121

Promotion of the rice cultivars: IR 64 or Khitish for arsenic contaminated areas as replacement of Satabdi. Low arsenic accumulating crops like potato, Pumpkin, Sesame, Green gram , sunflower can be safely included in cropping sequence to minimize the arsenic entry into the food-chain. Crop Rice Wheat Variety Potato IR 64, Khitish UP-262, K-9107 BT-193 Siliguri Lal, Kufri Chandramukhi Cauliflower Radish Pumpkin Colocasia White marvel Chinese Pink Kali Kumro BCC-10 Sesame Introduction of surface irrigation system through installation of largescale water harvesting structures in the contaminated areas.

Recommendations for immediate implementation Reduced use of ground water as irrigation source: Use of pond (surface) water (harvested rain water) has been observed to reduce arsenic loading in edible parts of different crops like kharif rice (24%), boro rice (20%), mustard (30%), wheat (31%), potato (30%), as compared to the crops exposed to irrigation through shallow tube well water (STW). Increased use of Organic Manure: Vermicompost, oil cakes (mustard and castor cakes), FYM, Green manure (Sesbania rostrata) were observed to reduce soil arsenic availability to standing crops. (Vermicompost was most efficient in this regard, reduced 55. 2% grain Arsenic loading in boro rice over the control counterparts. ) Inorganics as soil amendments: Zn. SO 4, Fe. SO 4, Ca. Si. O 3, elevated levels of phosphate were established as efficient inorganic amendments to reduce soil arsenic availability to standing crops.

Development Model for the State of West Bengal Flood control & Drainage Soil & Water Conservation Land Improvement and Development Irrigation Dev. & rain water conservation Reclamation of saline soil Forest & Social Forestry Dev. Crop improvement Fruits, vegetables floriculture, spices Agricultural production cropping intensity Zonal Level Priorities Cattle (milk), Goat/pig (meat), Poultry/duck (egg) & Fishery Overall Development in Agricultural and Allied Sectors Seed production Silk & Lac culture Animal production processing Biopesticides industries State Level Priorities Agricultural processing fruits/vegetables Biofertiliser industry Arsenic problem Feed mill Handicrafts cane/mat/jute Agro-based industries jute/cotton/wood etc. Agricultural process coir/bamboo/mat

Areas of prioritization Agricultural development in the State of West Bengal in future may have the strategy with following prioritization. While strategy for the next plan will be relatively a short-term one, that up to 2025 A. D. will be long-term strategy. The objectives of such agricultural development plan would be as follows: Ø Increasing agricultural production and productivity using natural resources as much as possible without harming the existing agro-ecological balances. Ø Genetic improvement of crop varieties with higher yield potentiality, adaptability under various biotic and abiotic stresses keeping in view the changing climate, following well planned research and developmental programme suitable for different agro-ecological situations. Ø Employment generation as well as livelihood security of the vast rural population of the State. Ø Generation of viable, low-cost agro-technology suitable for different agroecological situations. Ø Capacity building of the farming communities through extensive training and demonstration programme: § Institution credit support to the farmers. § Agro-based processing industries.

Major Strategies: • To maintain the productivity of major cereals in irrigated agro-ecosystem, especially in rice. • Value-addition in rice, pulse etc for better market price vis-à-vis more earning from the same area of land. • Promotion of quality seed/planting materials production for rice, pulse, vegetables and fruits. • Development of abiotic and biotic stress tolerant variety for rice, pulse, jute, fruits and vegetables using modern tools and techniques.

Constraints (BCKV) Ø Inadequate infrastructure for adopting modern tools and techniques due to insufficient fund flow. Ø Shortage of manpower, infrastructure and resources in the Zonal Research Stations for undertaking zone specific need-based research and extension programme. Ø University has shortage of man-power which is impeding teaching , research and extension works. Ø Lack of fund for translational research, particularly in the field of variety development.

Emerging areas of research for innovation and customization of technologies Development of varieties for principal crops suitable for agro-ecological zones and capable to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses Development, validation and training related to seed production technologies for principal crops across agro-ecological regions Formulation of site-specific integrated plant nutrient management system to augment productivity and to sustain soil health and resilience at the same time Formulation of IPM modules across agro-ecological regions for ecofriendly management of pest-disease-weed. Development and administration of appropriate post-harvest technologies for fruits, vegetables and other commercial crops for value addition. Sensitization and motivation of entrepreneurship for linking producercustomer through producer companies developed with stakeholders

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