‘Farmer Scientist Interaction Meet and Animal Support’ Programme Held at West Bengal University of Animal and Fisheries Sciences

Biotech KISAN-Hub project (at West Bengal University of Animal and Fisheries Sciences, Kolkata), with financial support from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, has organised a programme for farmer-scientist interaction and animal support with selected marginal farmers from five aspirational districts of West Bengal (Birbhum, Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda and South Dinajpur) held on 22nd July, 2024 at 11:30 AM at VCI Auditorium, West Bengal University of Animal and Fisheries Sciences, Belgachia Campus, 37 KB Sarani, Kolkata.

The farmer-scientist interaction meeting was inaugurated by Swapan Debnath, Minister-In-Charge, Animal Resources Development Department, Govt. of West Bengal. Chandranath Sinha, Minister in charge of Small and Medium Textile Industries, Government of West Bengal was present at the program. Dr. Hema Tripathi, Associate Director Extension, Sher-e Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Jammu graced the program. Tarannum Sultana Mir, Sabhadhipati, Nadia District Dr. Mosharef Hussain Sarkar, MLA, Murarai, Birbhum, Janab Reyat Hossain Sarkar, Bhagbangola, Murshidabad, were the guests of honor and Vice-Chancellor of West Bengal University of Animal and Fisheries Sciences, Shyam Sundar Dana presided over the function.

The program was divided into two parts, during the first part the inauguration ceremony was accomplished and then with the consent of Minister Swapan Debnath, the beneficiaries selected from five potential districts (Birbhum, Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda and South Dinajpur) were distributed with superior quality Bengal black goats, Vanraja chicks and Indian major carps. The second part of the program started by welcoming the guests. Dr. Keshab Chandra Dhara, the Principal Investigator of the project, presented a welcome speech. After this, different booklets along with the farm journal, Kisan Barta, published by the project, were opened by the chief guests.

"After agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries are the biggest contributors to employment. Both the Central and the State Governments have already come forward but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has given a lot of importance to animal husbandry to create more employment opportunities. Animal husbandry is the second largest area of self-reliance after agriculture." Swapan Debnath, Minister-in-charge for Animal Resource Development, West Bengal Government, said these words during this program.

Minister Chandranath Sinha appreciated the Chief Minister's initiative and said in his speech 'Our Chief Minister repeatedly says that girls should also be self-reliant. Girls should also come forward. Women will also come forward and advance the development of Bengal. She is doing self-help groups for women just as she is brainstorming for men. The school dresses that we are providing through small cottage industries are being manufactured through self-help groups. We are working as much as possible in all the departments including Fisheries Department, Animal Resources Department, Small Cottage Industries Department so that we can develop the whole of West Bengal.”

Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Shyam Sundar Dana said – “We have done some work in our university. In 2023, I got the best result in the Eastern zone in this university. Even in the Ed ranking, this university has occupied the 10th position. Moreover, a few days ago, a very big university from Germany collaborated with this university. The proudest thing is that they approached the Indian Veterinary Institute, the Veterinary University of Tamil Nadu, another veterinary university but they gave responsibility to our university. To handle all these tasks. This has been made possible by the combined efforts of the students and staff here."

Dr. Hema Tripathi, Associate Director, Extension, Sciences and Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture, Jammu, highlighted the importance of animal husbandry and said - 'Apart from agriculture, the government has looked at cattle rearing today. So that people can find a way of income from this field. Being done in business form. Today, many young people are fleeing from farming and moving to cities. Every day 2000 youths flee from villages and come to cities. When they go there, they work as laborers or drive rickshaws. Today the government launched the 'AAY' (Anthdaya Anna Yojana) scheme to make animal husbandry more attractive. The village is our centers of work. There we are providing very advanced technology. The youth have to come forward in this regard."

Dr. Keshab Chandra Dhara, Principal Investigator of the project, in his welcome address mentioned “the University of Animal and Fisheries Sciences goes ahead to enrich the life and livelihood of the people in remote villages. Regarding this, we have established Biotech KISAN Hub in the five aspirational districts of West Bengal and have reached out to lakhs of people in the districts. We started this journey in Sundarbans from March 5, 2017. In the next phase, we have started our activities in the five aspirational districts of West Bengal. People can be furthered through livelihoods that can be combined between goat rearing, fish farming and poultry farming.”

“Especially through such employment that enriches their livelihood and our aim is to make female farmers self-reliant. If women are self-reliant, the family becomes progressive. I have worked for the past seven years in collaboration with the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal. We want to take this work forward with the local representatives. I will provide 200 in each of the aspirational districts i.e. 1000 goats in total, chickens and fish to each district every year. Some of those beneficiaries will be trained with the help of talented teachers of the university. Protect the input support given by the government as it is your wealth," he added.

Twelve farmers among the trained beneficiaries of the five aspirational districts under this scheme were presented the “Best Farmer Award”. The main objective of Biotech KISAN Hub is to spread scientific technology. Various programs have been undertaken for the backward animal and fish farmers in West Bengal. Among these programs, one of these programs is to provide input support of the animals and training on scientific methods of animal and fish farming. Not only the distribution and training but also the regular contact with the animal keepers and the vaccination of various animals and the treatment of diseases have extended the helping hand in various ways. Various social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube channels and mobile apps have created a platform to connect with farmers. Moreover, Kisan Barta, a farm journal published by this project at a fixed interval of days, has also gained immense popularity among marginal farmers.

Around 300 farmers and 50 university faculty scientists, students and government officials from five potential districts have been a part of the program to link available science and technology for which the entire program has achieved a different level of success. In the end, Dr. Shyam Sundar Kesh concluded this auspicious event by thanking all the guests.