31/10/2025
🌱🌾🍊 𝐁𝐂𝐊𝐕 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞-𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐮𝐫𝐚, 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥 🌱🌾🍊
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐝𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐚 (𝐁𝐂𝐊𝐕) 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 (𝐈𝐅𝐒) 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥. As part of these ongoing efforts, a team from BCKV, led by the Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ashok K. Patra, visited farm households in Housibad village, Chhatna Block, Bankura district, on 22 October 2025 to observe the progress and impact of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Integrated Farming Systems (AICRP-IFS) being conducted by BCKV. The delegation included Prof. Susanta Kumar De (Associate Dean, Bankura College of Agriculture), Sri Subhasis Batabyal (Chairman, West Bengal State Seed Corporation), Sri Swapan Kumar Chakraborty (Secretary, Gosaidihi Astha Co-operative Society), and Prof. Manabendra Ray (Chief Agronomist and Officer-in-Charge, AICRP-IFS, BCKV).
The AICRP-IFS unit at BCKV, Mohanpur, has been conducting impactful on-farm research and technology demonstrations across Chhatna and Bankura-I blocks. The project primarily focuses on two thematic areas:
1. Diversification and improvement of existing farming systems, and
2. On-farm evaluation of sustainable management practices to enhance farm productivity, income, and climate resilience.
During the visit, the dignitaries observed notable achievements of the IFS interventions implemented in the region. Progressive farmer Sri Gopal Mondal showcased his milk processing unit, established with technical and financial support from the project, demonstrating successful integration of livestock-based enterprises into farming systems. The team also witnessed crop diversification initiatives, including the introduction of blackgram (PU-31), arhar (Amaravati), groundnut (TAG-24), mosambi, and dragon fruit, along with improved fodder cultivation to strengthen livestock nutrition and enhance system sustainability.
An interactive session involving around 30 farmers followed the field visit, where participants shared their experiences and discussed the benefits of integrated farming practices. The event concluded with the distribution of mustard seeds for Frontline Demonstrations (FLD) and fodder oat seeds under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) program.
In his address, Dr. Patra lauded the efforts of the farmers and scientists for their dedication in implementing diversified, resource-efficient, and environmentally sound farming systems. He emphasized the importance of maintaining soil health and nutrient balance as key pillars of long-term agricultural sustainability. He also assured farmers of continued technological, institutional, and extension support from BCKV to strengthen farming resilience and rural livelihoods. Sri Subhasis Batabyal reaffirmed the State Seed Corporation’s commitment to ensuring the regular supply of high-quality seeds and planting materials to farmers for accelerating the adoption of improved crop varieties.
The visit concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Manabendra Ray, who acknowledged the cooperation of farmers and the valuable support extended by ICAR, BCKV, and local institutions in advancing the mission of integrated farming for enhanced livelihood security in the semi-arid regions of Bankura.
