Agri-mechanical hubs to promote intensive farming in Bengal

The state's agriculture department Wednesday announced the formation of agri-mechanical hubs which will help push intensive farming, and crop diversification in small land holdings.

This will help in countering deficits in production of maize, onion and other crops, an official of the department said.

"In Punjab and Haryana, there are mainly big farmers with considerable land holdings. It is easier to carry out diversification. But in Bengal, where there are small farmers with smaller lands, it will take a long time," said Subhasis Batabyal, Parliament Secretary, State Agriculture Department, during the inauguration of the Krishi Unnayan Mela (Farmers' Fair) here.

Crop diversification gives a wider choice in the production of a variety of crops in a given area. This expands production related activities on various crops and also lowers risk. Farm machinery is needed for such intensive ventures.

"One has to first demonstrate and then wait for the results so that farmers can accept it. This process needs time," he said.

The three-day event has been organised by the state agriculture department and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vidyalaya campus.

The official highlighted that such measures could tackle the deficit in production of crops like maize and onion.

"To aim towards self-sufficiency, mechanisation is important but for small land holdings, as in Bengal, big equipment won't do. We need micro-dimensional machinery."

"To do that, we are going to start agri-mechanical hubs where cooperatives will help farmers to procure machines and operate them," Batabyal said.

During the opening ceremony, state Agriculture Minister Purnendu Bose stressed on moving towards sustainable agriculture, and this includes strengthening organic farming in the state, he said.

"We are lagging behind other states like Karnataka. There is no provision to issue certification to farmers in Bengal. We have to fight for it and get the facility. There is ample scope for developing organic farming," Bose said.

In addition, the state government is mulling amending the APMC (Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee) Act, he said.

"We will not adopt everything that has been mentioned in it, like the contract farming provision," said state Minister for Agriculture Marketing Arup Roy.