Bengal plans agri centre to induct global best practices

West Bengal plans to set up a centre of excellence for agriculture at Burdwan to showcase global best practices in agriculture.
"We are working on a plan to set up a centre of excellence to showcase and bring international best practises in agriculture and agri inputs," state Agriculture Minister Purnendu Basu said on the sidelines of an event here.
The government, he said, was in dialogue with countries like Israel, the Philippines and the Netherlands to induct best technologies in agriculture to improve productivity.
Speaking about importance of agriculture in the state, Basu said its development is important and the state could have large scale industry once the farm sector thrives.

He, however, expressed concerned about erratic monsoon in the kharif sowing districts but remained hopeful of better yeild of rice.
"Sowing had remained similar to last year at about 42 lakh hectares but with some steps we hope for better productivity and less crop loss," Basu said.