In response to the flooding along the lower Damodar and Ajoy river basins, West Bengal's Comprehensive Area Development Corporation (CADC) has prepared 80,000 scion plantlets for distribution to the affected regions post-cyclone Dana. The floods have left agricultural blocks in Bankura, East Burdwan, Hooghly, and Birbhum waterlogged, destroying crops through root system damage, nutrient leaching, and oxygen deprivation, adversely affecting the rural agricultural economy since September. The CADC aims to support vegetable cultivators by increasing the production of cash crop plantlets in its gardens.
Pradip Majumdar, the state's panchayat minister, mentioned, "This short-term measure can well be quite effective in certain chosen blocks for sure. Such transplantation though isn't so easy." He emphasized the importance of preparing community seed beds in highland areas to resume paddy cultivation, the principal crop. The CADC has focused on cultivating scions for Kharif vegetables over 350 hectares, including cruciferous vegetables and solanaceae family vegetables, prioritizing specific blocks in Bankura, Birbhum, and East Burdwan.
Subhashis Batabyal, chairman of the CADC, stated that the nearly mature plantlets are expected to expedite yield and generate marketable surpluses. The initiative aims to mitigate further damage post-Dana. Additionally, experts have noted that soil erosion and changes in river courses have significantly impacted cash crop cultivation, underscoring the relevance of such recovery efforts.
Source: The Statesman