Lok Sabha Question No. 2559 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: Sustainable Agricultural Practices
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS' WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS' WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2559

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05 TH   AUGUST, 2025

## SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

2559. DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS' WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government has conducted any training or awareness drives in Jalpaiguri regarding  sustainable  farming  practices  and  pesticide-free  cultivation,  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (b) Whether farmers in Jalpaiguri have been supported to shift from monoculture to crop diversification under centrally sponsored schemes, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI  RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): Yes,  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  been  conducting training and awareness programmes in Jalpaiguri district to promote sustainable farming practices and pesticide-free cultivation. The trainings are conducted in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and State Agricultural Universities to raise awareness among farmers  about  Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM),  weed  control,  organic  farming,  and natural farming. In addition, farmers are also educated on the safe and judicious use of biofertilizers,  bio-pesticides, and  alternatives to chemical pesticides in field and horticultural crops. In 2025, ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (ICAR-CRIJAF) conducted 214 training and demonstration programmes in Jalpaiguri district under the JuteICARE (Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise) project in six blocks, focusing on line sowing, mechanical weeding, and improved retting practices. Special emphasis was given to using the microbial formulation 'CRIJAF SONA' to speed up retting and enhance fibre quality. These efforts aimed to boost productivity, reduce labour dependency and postharvest  losses.  Further, The  ICAR-IARI  (Indian  Agricultural  Research  Institute)  Regional Station,  Kalimpong,  conducted  a  training  programme  from  February  22-24,  2025,  at Madhya Khuttimari, Jalpaiguri, under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) focusing on entrepreneurship development  and  livelihood diversification for tribal farmers. Fifty participants  were  trained  on  value  addition,  market  linkages,  and  integration  of  allied activities to enhance income. Kitchen gardening kits were distributed to promote nutritional security. Eco-friendly pest control methods, including fruit fly and yellow sticky traps, were demonstrated.

Further, the Government is implementing National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture  (NMSA),  to  make  agriculture  more  resilient  to  the  changing  climate.  Several schemes have been initiated under NMSA to promote sustainability in agriculture in the country  including  the  State  of  West  Bengal.  However,  district  level  information  is  not maintained centrally.

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