Himalayan Times (1957)

March 24, 1967

the last five years show
dearly that even under
our soil climatio conditions
it ii poisible to raise
or ops oom parable to that
in countries more progres-
sive in agriculture. Win-
ners of these oompetions
have been given liberal
oash prizes at State, dis-
trict, thana and union
levels as additional incen-
tive.

Campaigns for better
cultivation, such as the
Japanese method of paddy
cultivation, better culti-
vation of sugarcane, jute,
etc, sre carried out on
an intensive scale each
year. These campaigns
are always preceded by
free distribution of infor-
mation material such as
folders, leaflets posters,
etc, in addition to the
normal distribution of in-
formation material and the
distribution of teohnical in-
furmaton through the
Press and All India Ra-
dio. It is of interest to
note that annually about
42,000 acres are no** being
covered under the Japa-
nese method of paddy
cultivation.

Another important
activity whioh needs men-
tion is the development
of agricultural marketing
societies and other means
to improve the general
efficiency of agricultural
■ marketing. Marketing
surveys, keeping the grow-
ers informed of. prices.

organization of co-opera-
tive marketing sooieties,
and grading and standardi-
zation of produce are
some items of work whiok
have received speoial at-
tention. At present about
150 agricultural co-opera-
tive marketing sooieties
are actively functioning
in the State; a co-opera-
tive cold storage has also
been set up.

Animal Husbandry
Hardly less vigorous
work was put in nn im-
proving the cattle and
poultry wealth of the
>tate during the First
Plan period. On the ani-
mal husbandry side, in
addition to the distribu-
tion of improved bulls,
artificial insemination cen-
tres and sub-centres were
opened. The live-stock
breeding farm at Haring-
hata, the biggest in the
State, has been the main
source of supply of bulls
and poultry. Arrange,
ments have been completed
to establish a well-orga-
nized milk oolony at the
Haringhata farm to meet
the large demuud for milk
in Calcutta.

No development in
agrioulture oan be achie-
ved without adequate pro-
vision^ for training and
, education. In this sphere
West Bengal was consi-
derably handicapped by
partition. During the last
five year, it has been
possible to establish a

full-fledged degree oollege
with an extension wing,
an additional secondary
school, three in servioe
training centres, and four
extension training centres. -
Training facilities, free of
oqst, are also being offered
at the State Poultry Mul-
tiplication Centre to all
interested in roaring poul-

try

In 1947 48, we started
with a total annual pro-
duction of 3,400,0U0 tons
of rice. In 195,1-52 it
was only 3,480,000 tone.
It is heartening to note
that in spite ot the heavy
damage by flood and
drought, West Bengal to-
day, as a result of the
intensive measures under-
taken progressively during
the last five years, is pro-
ducing about 4,200,000
tons of rice per year.
The yield of potato, pulse
and other orops has also
inoreased appreciably. The
average yield per acre of
jute and sugarcane has
been on the increase. No
doubt our achievements
have not been very spec-
tacular, but considering
the huge problem and' the
adverse conditions under
which we had to work,
the past five\vears of
activity in agriculture can
be looked upon as a pe-
riod of continuous pro-,
gress: we have emerged
from the woods and laid
a firm foundation for the
future. —Statesman