Statesman News Service
MALDA, 22 SEPT: Malda district has targeted enhanced production of pulses by four per cent in this rabi crop season, to make up for its shortfall under the Central government’s National Food Security Mission (NFSM) project.
The shortfall of pulse production in Malda district is nearly 67 per cent, as compared to the requirement of its population. According to the report of the district agriculture department, farmers in Malda produce a total of 15, 874 MT per year (33 per cent of total requirement). The district requires 48,093 MT at present.
It may be noted that NFSM has targeted to increase the production of rice, wheat and pulses and has started working in six districts of this state since 2007-08.
The NFSM has selected Malda district to enhance production of pulses and to expand its cultivated area considering the abnormal shortfall of pulse production here from 2007-08 and decided to provide assistance.
Following the guideline of the NFSM, the district has formed committees from district level to block level involving panchayat officials for implementing this project.
Though the NFSM has decided to provide assistance including modern equipment for cultivation of pulses with a subsidised rate up to 50 per cent, many farmers do not have capacity to buy imperative equipment.
“We have informed the government requesting to increase the rate of subsidy on particular costly items which is imperative for better pulse cultivation. Though subsidy rate is 50 per cent many farmers are unable to buy such equipment. Now we are waiting for government's decision,” said Mr Soumendra Nath Das, agriculture (technical) development officer.
During this kharif season the agriculture department in Malda has provided assistance to the farmers for pulse cultivation out of funds of Rs 1.04 crore allotted by the NFSM in 2008-09.
The agriculture technology management agency (ATMA) is working here to encourage farmers for the production of pulses under Food Security Mission.
Besides programmes of NFSM, the district agriculture department has targeted to encourage farmers to cultivate pulses on char lands on the bank of the Ganga without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
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