'Bengal an advanced state in terms of paddy cultivation'
Kolkata: Bengal has come up to be an advanced state in almost all aspects of paddy cultivation, during a knowledge sharing interaction between scientists of the state Agriculture department and the Centre's National Rice Research Institute (NRRI).
The interaction took place at Nabanna on Monday. State Agriculture minister Asish Banerjee, agricultural advisor to the Chief Minister Pradip Majumdar and the department's secretary Nandini Chakravorty were also present during the interaction.
Top officials, including the director and senior scientists of the National Rice Research Institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, came to the state secretariat from Cuttack.
The main idea was to discuss various aspects of paddy cultivation. The agri-scientists of National Rice Research Institute put forward their views, ideas and research findings on varieties of rice, climate smart cultivation of paddy, cultivation of nutrient rich rice, aromatic rice, etc.
Scientists from the state Agriculture department also exchanged their views on the different aspects of paddy cultivation. It may be mentioned that this comes at the time when the agri-scientists from the state are working on the same and have introduced many new innovations in the state's agriculture sector.
Sources said that during the knowledge sharing interaction, agri-scientists have put forward the examples of Bengal's success in terms of innovation in the agricultural sector.
It has been learnt that the issue of aromatic rice had cropped up during the interaction and "as an outcome it was found that Bengal is much ahead in cultivation of aromatic rice". Similarly, the agri-scientists had been working on "climate smart" paddy, as steps have already been taken up to ensure cultivation of paddy even in salty water.
Sources said that during the interaction, the agri-scientists from Bengal have put forward many such ideas which were unique ones and in certain cases, such steps were taken up for the first time in the country.
"The meeting was a fruitful one and the discussions between the scientists were very constructive," said an official, adding that the state government will be in touch with National Rice Research Institute and there could be scope for further such interactions in future.
When contacted, state Agriculture minister Asish Banerjee said: "They wanted to meet us and there were discussions on various aspects of paddy cultivation."
It may be mentioned that the knowledge sharing interaction has taken place at a time when the average annual income of farmers in Bengal has increased to Rs 2.91 lakh in the last financial year and the state has become immensely successful in the sector. Moreover, the Centre has awarded the state with Krishi Karman Award for five consecutive years.
