ICAR-CRIJAF, Barrackpore Organizes Krishak Sammelan

6 June 2026, Barrackpore

ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore organized Krishak Sanmelan today in its premises, bringing together farmers, women members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), scientists, extension personnel, and other stakeholders from jute sector.

The programme was graced by Shri Dillip Ghosh, Minister, Agriculture Marketing, Rural Development and Panchayats, Animal Resources, Government of West Bengal, as chief guest. Addressing the gathering, the minister emphasized the importance of scientific agriculture, value addition, market linkages, and entrepreneurship for enhancing farmers' income and improving rural livelihoods.

He reiterated that the farmers must take full advantage of the newly released varieties and farm technologies developed by ICAR-CRIJAF. Shri Ghosh appreciated the efforts of women SHGs engaged in the making and marketing of diversified jute-based products and encouraged them to further expand their enterprises through innovation, skill development, and collective marketing initiatives. The minister called for coordinated efforts among policymakers, marketing agencies, research institutions, and farmer organizations to create robust market support systems.

Shri Kaustav Bagchi, MLA, Barrackpore graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. He appreciated the technological development in jute sector and told that jute has special significance in this state. The technologies need to be promoted in a bigger way to regain the glory of golden fibre for the benefit of farmers and other stakeholders.

Smt. Shilpa Gourisariya, IAS and District Magistrate, North 24-Parganas and Guest of Honour graced the occasion and addressed the farmers.

Shri Pralay Ray Chaudhuri, ADM, North 24 Parganas also graced the occasion and addressed the farmers.

In his welcome address, Dr Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR-CRIJAF, highlighted the significant contributions of the institute in developing farmer-friendly technologies for jute and allied fibre crops, including improved varieties, integrated crop management practices, quality seed production technologies, mechanization, retting technologies, and value-added products.

Dr Kar, redefined its commitment for the jute growers and successfully up scaled the technologies for technological and economic empowerment of the jute sector as a whole. Besides, he informed that few women SHG members trained in the skill development centre of the institute could achieve the status of ‘lakhpati didis’. This reiterates the institute’s commitment to link the technologies for socio-economic upliftment of the society. The Director further stressed the importance of establishing stable and remunerative markets for jute and other agricultural commodities to safeguard farmers' interests and encourage sustainable agricultural production.

During the programme, the dignitaries visited the jute museum, stalls displaying JDPs, field experiments as well as demonstration on use of drone in precise pesticide application.  The minister distributed quality seeds of high-yielding varieties of paddy and green manuring crops among the farmers. Farm implements and sprayers were also distributed to promote adoption of improved agricultural practices and enhance farm productivity.

The programme concluded with an interactive session where farmers and SHG members shared their experiences and discussed various challenges and opportunities related to agriculture. The event was attended by more than 250 farmers, farm women, SHG members, scientists; officials of state Govt. media persons and other stakeholders.

(Source: ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore)