Awareness camps on soil health and benefits of central sector agriculture schemes by KVK Purba BardhamanA series of awareness camps on soil health and benefits of central sector agriculture schemes in the agriculturally underdeveloped western part of erst

A series of awareness camps on soil health and benefits of central sector agriculture schemes in the agriculturally underdeveloped western part of erstwhile Burdwan, now Paschim Bardhaman were organised by KVK, Purba Bardhaman from 24th April to 27th April, 2017.

The initiative was taken by Shri Babul Supriyo, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Asansol and MoS, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Govt. of India. The camps were organized at Jamuria, Andal, Ranigunj and Barabani blocks, respectively. The main objectives of the camps were to make the farmers aware about the different central sector scheme like Soil Health Card Mission, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Kausal Vikas Yojana towards fulfilling the objective of Hon’ble Prime Minister of doubling farmers income by 2022.

In all the camps, Dr. Dipankar Ghorai, Programme Coordinator (I/c) elucidated the importance of soil health, need for soil testing and procedure for collection of soil sample. Around 200 soil samples were collected from the 4 areas for which Soil Health Cards will be generated by the KVK.

The Minister will hand over the SHCs to the concerned farmers himself during 1st week of June in another programme which will be hosted by the KVK as well. Officials from NABARD, Line Department and Agricultural Insurance Corporation gave detailed lecture on Pradhan Mantri Krishi Bima Yojana with its importance, advantages over existing crop insurance scheme, how farmers can benefit from it and how to apply for the same. Experts from KVK and Line Dept discussed the importance and advantage of other Central Sector Schemes.

Sri Babul Supriyo thanked the KVK for organizing the programme and urged upon the KVK to increase their outreach in Paschim Bardhaman. At the end there were farmer’s scientist interaction in each camp regarding farmers farming problems and their solutions.

Around 750 farmers were benefitted by these programmes.

(Source: ICAR-ATARI Kolkata)