The Ramkrishna Ashram Krishi Vigyan Kendra (RAKVK), one of the oldest and premier KVKs of the Nation, is the district level extension wing of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi functioning under the administrative control of Sri Ramkrishna Ashram, Nimpith, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. It was founded by Srimat Swami Buddhanandaji Maharaj in the year 1979 with active support and guidance of the Internationally Acclaimed Scientist, Dr. M. S. Swaminathan and late Sri Jyotirmoy Basu - the then Member of Parliament of Diamond Harbour constituency of South 24 Parganas. Shri Morarjibhai Desai, Former Prime Minister of India laid the Foundation Stone of the KVK on 28th May, 1979.
Since its establishment, this Krishi Vigyan Kendra started working in a mission-mode to uplift the distressed and downtrodden farming communities of South 24 Parganas District as a whole, and Sundarbans in particular. This KVK played the pivotal role in inculcating different location specific technologies regarding mitigation of drainage and salinity problems, creation of irrigation facility, introducing climate resilient agriculture, promotion of new crop / species, regular availability of bio-inputs for promotion of organic farming, etc. Some of the authenticated and validated technologies are ‘Land Shaping & Rainwater Harvesting’, ‘Ail & Aerial cultivation’, Cotton cultivation in saline rice fallow, Sunflower cultivation in rice fallow, Hi-tech Shade Net Pan Boroj, Breeding & Culture of Asian Catfish, Ornamental fish & Ornamental bird rearing, Nutrition Garden, Household production of microbial biopesticides, Scientific Beekeeping, etc. The KVK has ‘state of the art’ soil testing laboratory, biocontrol laboratory, fish breeding unit, dairy, poultry, seed processing plant, conditional godown for high value seeds, apiary, agro-meteorological unit, organic manure unit, Bio-fertilizer production unit, instructional farm and various demonstration units of modern agro-technologies. Apart from regular KVK mandated activities, this KVK runs different projects like Natural Farming, Kisan Drone, NICRA, ARYA, RKVY, Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) Krishionnati Yojana, Oilseeds Seed Hub, AICRP on HB & P, AICRP on Sunflower, MVC, ATMA, CFLD, SCSP Programme, DFI, IFS etc. to cater the larger section of the community in collaboration with line departments. These technological interventions of RAKVK, an ISO 9001:2015 certified organization, have revolutionized the concept of farming in the district of South 24 Parganas. As a recognition of the mission mode activities all over the district, the RAKVK has been conferred with the “National Best KVK Award-2012” in the country by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the “Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Rashtriya Krishi Protshahan Puraskar (National) - 2016” by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. In this year, 2023-24, RAKVK received the ‘First’ Prize in ‘National’ category in the ‘MANAGE Agri-Film Festival – 2023’ for the film titled “Bongheri: The Journey of a Climate Smart Village”, which depicts the transformation of a Aila affected village into an agriculturally progressive one, near Kaikhali.
In the year 2023-24, the KVK organized 131 training programme including 43 on campus, 92 off campus training where 5394 participants received knowledge on area specific technologies throughout the year which also includes 35 skill development training covering 991 rural youth and extension person. Several online (training and awareness campaign) programmes were also conducted during the period.
In addition to regular KVK trainings, different sponsored training programme was organized like ‘Agricultural Technology Awareness Programme (ATAP)’ under Vivekananda Krishi Mitra Prakalpa of RKMVERI, Belur Math; Scientific Bee Keeping Training sponsored by National Bee Board, FOCT by Coconut Development Board, Exposures under ATMA, IFFCO, CIFRI, MANAGE sponsored Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY), Awareness camps by Reliance Foundation etc. The final year B.Sc. (Ag.) students of The Neotia University and Siksha O Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar conducted their RAWE programme at RAKVK during September to November, 2023. Apart from training, several Projects and activities are being carried out by RAKVK during this period. Few of which are –
Large scale demonstration on cotton cultivation in saline rice fallow as rabi-summer crop was conducted during 2023-24 in 604 hectares of land in the Sundarban Blocks with the financial support from Dept. of Agriculture, GoWB under Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) Krishionnati Yojana (commercial crop cotton). The marketing of seed cotton has been assured by RAKVK, through a PPP Mode with Cotton Corporation of India (GoI), who are purchasing the seed cotton since last 21 years, directly from the farmers at Govt. declared MSP rate. The estimated production of the seed cotton in 2023 was around 2500 qtls, however, due to occurrence of natural calamity, farmers of Joynagar-I & II, Kultali, Mathurapur-I and Pathar Pratima Block have been able to sell their 1103 qtls quality seed cotton to Cotton Corporation of India at RAKVK cotton godown. The payment was made directly to the Bank Accounts of the farmers through AADHAAR linked payment system.
The NICRA project (under Technology Demonstration Component) was launched in the year 2011 through financial support of the ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad with a view to demonstrate climate resilient technologies in the Aila affected coastal village of Bongheri of Kultali Block, South 24 Parganas covering around 500 farm-families with an area of 253 ha agricultural lands. After completion of the first phase in 2021, a new village ‘Kaikhali-II’ has also been adopted, covering another 296 families with an area of 42 ha. During 2023-24, various activities like demonstration on water saving technologies, stress tolerant crops, animal & fish species, integrated pest management, mangrove afforestation, capacity building, etc., were conducted. The Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) established under this project is efficiently catering the need of the resource poor farmers. Introduction of submergence tolerant paddy (Var. Varsha Dhan), salt tolerant paddy (Var.CR Dhan-412), short duration greengram (Var. IPM-205-7), yellow mosaic virus tolerant black gram (Var. PU-9), leaf curl virus tolerant chilli (Var.Arka Tejasvi and Arka Saanvi), low BOAA content lathyrus variety Bidhan Khesari-I and stress tolerant Asian catfish integrated with IMC, improved shelter for poultry and dairy animals have been converged with other NRM activities like silver and black mulching, green manuring (Dhanincha) in rice, Land shaping and rain water harvesting technolgy, Ail cultivation, broad bed cum trench system and freshwater pond desiltation. In this year, 4 farmers were benefited by land shaping technology covering 0.82 ha area, 3 farmers were benefited by Ail cultivation covering 0.44 ha, 3 farmer was benefited with broad bed cum trench system covering 0.34 ha area and 24 farmers were benefited by freshwater pond desiltation covering 6.67 ha. Apart from these, some agri-implements like power tiller, paddy thresher, seed drill machine, water pump, sprayer, seed bin etc. have been provided to the Custom Hiring Center in the newly adopted village Kaikhali-II. The results of NICRA project has been exceptionally well with massive awareness building among the farming community of the project area, and the same has been presented at various National and International level seminars and conferences.
KVK has been implementing the project on Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) financed by ICAR, New Delhi since 2015-16. In the year 2023-24, this project has been implemented in 11 blocks namely Joynagar-I & II, Mathurapur- I & II, Kakdwip, Kulpi, Mandirbazar, Falta, Kultali, Magrahat-I and Diamond Harbour-II involving the rural youths with an objective of self-employment generation through agriculture and allied area. These youths have been empowered with the technologies on catfish hatchery, horticulture nursery, poultry hatchery, mushroom production unit with proper post production guidance and market linkage.
RAKVK, Nimpith has been running a voluntary center of AICRP on HB & P since 2015. The major activities of the said project are
a. Pollination studies on litchi, cotton, cucumber, pointed gourd, ivy gourd, dragon fruit, etc.
b. Study on native pollinators/ solitary bees,
c. Study on stingless bees,
d. Promotion of beekeeping among traditional honey collectors of Sundarbans,
e. Conservation of Apis dorsata,
f. Training on Beekeeping as alternative livelihood,
g. Surveillance on diseases and bee enemies, etc. The centre has a well equipped apiary and all sorts of training facilities.
A regular centre of AICRP on Sunflower was sanctioned from ICAR- IIOR, Hyderabad to SRAN in July, 2009, which was established at RAKVK premises. In this center, study on development of location specific Sunflower Hybrids is being conducted by the Plant Breeding section. Similarly, the Agronomy section has developed some modified package of practices suitable for the coastal saline region of Sundarbans. Apart from these, All India Coordinated Trials (Initial Hybrid Trial & Advance Hybrid Trial), Multi-location trials, Advance station trials, Preliminary station hybrid trials and Management of Sunflower Genetic resources for development of hybrid varieties suitable for this region is being conducted by this center. Some new sunflower hybrids, developed by AICRP-Nimpith centre, have been promoted to IHT & AHT levels. Maintenance of parental lines and seed production programme of nominated sunflower hybrid (NIM SH 20-01 and NIM SH 22-02) in All India Level has also been carried out by the centre. Four newly developed sunflower hybrids have been nominated from this center to All India Level Trial in 2022-23. This year, FLD on Sunflower with the suitable package of practices, was also organized involving 150 farmers from Sagar and Kakdwip blocks of South 24 Parganas District and inputs like Sunflower seeds (F1 Hybrid seed Var. LFSH -171) and bio-control agents and Boron were provided to the beneficiaries. The centre also implemented ‘SCSP’ with the involvement of more than 200 number of SC farmers of different blocks of Kakdwip, Sagar, Jaynagar-II and Namkhana with the financial support of ICAR-IIOR, Hyderabad. Inputs like Electric Pump, Battery operated Sprayer etc. were provided to the beneficiaries from this centre.
RAKVK has been successfully running Oilseeds Seed Hub Project sanctioned by DAC & FW, Govt. of India through ICAR- IIOR, since July, 2018. The main activity of the project is to produce quality seed of sesame, (variety Suprava/CUMS-17; Unnat Rama) and Sunflower (F1 Hybrid LFSH -171). At present both the seed production is going on at RAKVK Instructional Farm-Nimpith, Agri Farm at Jhargram branch of Sri Ramkrishna Ashram and farmer’s field of Pashcim Medinipur and South 24 Parganas District. This year 465 kg sunflower F1 hybrid seed (Var.LSFH-171) and 250 kg Sesame Foundation seed, 1837 kg Sesame Certified seed and 242 kg TL seed of variety CUMS-17 have been produced. Under this project, a seed processing unit of 40 q/hr capacity and a ‘Thermal and Moisture Proof Seed Godown’ with a capacity of storing 1200 qtl. seeds have been running at Nimpith. In addition to this, a Conditional Seed Godown (Capacity: 300 qtl seed) for hi-value oilseed crops and other crops has been established in 2021 with financial support of Dept. of Agriculture, GoWB under NFSM (OS) scheme.
In collaboration with the Animal Resource Development Department, Govt. of West Bengal, RAKVK has been continuing Mobile Veterinary Clinic (MVC) project in six blocks of South and North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal to cater the primary health care services including vaccination and awareness programme for the animals of rural families of far flung areas. In 2023-24 period, total 1320 no. of Animal Health Camp has been conducted and 45816 no. of beneficiaries has benefited from this project.
The RAKVK, Nimpith has been implementing SCSP programme of ICAR with the involvement of 555 number of SC farmers of different blocks of South 24 Parganas like Kultali, Joynagar- I & II, Mathurapur- I & II, Mandirbazar, Kulpi, Magrahat-I, Kakdwip, Sagar, Namkhana with the financial support of ICAR-ATARI-Kolkata, ICAR-IIAB, Ranchi and ICAR-IIOR, Hyderabad. Inputs like Electric Pump, Battery operated Sprayer, Chicks & Feed, Fish Fingerlings, Seed & Fertilizers, Silver black poly-mulch, Honey box and extractor etc. were provided to the beneficiaries.
The Soil Testing Laboratory of RAKVK was upgraded to a ‘State of the Art STL’ through RKVY project of the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of West Bengal during 2017-18 and 2018-19. Now, the laboratory is well equipped with testing facilities of all sorts of soil parameters including micro-nutrients and soil physical properties with a capacity of 20000 samples per year. In the year 2023-24, 13195 nos. of soil samples have been tested and submitted the Soil Health Card to the Agriculture Department, Govt. of West Bengal under the scheme of SH&F, RKVY for distribution among the farmers of South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts. Besides, 740 nos. soil samples also been tested of other farmers, NGOs, University Research Scholar etc. From 2021, RAKVK STL has launched computer generated Soil Health Card with all recommendation suitable for the farmers.
Every year the KVK has been working to provide quality fish seeds to the farmers of its operational area. In this direction several varieties of fish are produced from the KVK Fish Breeding Unit. The most preferred fish by the farmers are the carps, desi magur, singhi, tangra and different varieties of ornamental fish. About 325kg of carp fingerlings, 45000 magur and singhi fry and more than 3000 seeds of ornamental fish were produced in 2022-23.
The KVK has a well equipped bio-input production laboratory with a production capacity of more than 10 ton per annum. Biocontrol agents like Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescence, Metarhizium anisoplie, etc. are mass multiplied here. Apart from these, fruit fly traps (Cue lure, Methyl eugenol lure), waste decomposer, neem leaf extract, neemastra, brahmastra, etc., are also produced to facilitate organic farming by the farmers. There are also facilities for production of insect parasites (Trichogramma sp.) and predators (green lace wing, spiders, etc.). Different skill based trainings are organised here for on-farm mass production of fungal biocontrol agents, commercial formulation of biopesticides, mother culture maintenance, biofumigation, composting, etc. Presently important research is being conducted on selection of region specific strains of biocontrol agents for effective consortium formulation for the Sundarbans region. The laboratory is also used for identification of different disease causing pathogens and pests with the help of modern microscopy and culturing. The bio-input production lab at RAKVK is very helpful for the farmers of the region to fulfill their organic input requirements, locally.
Under the RKVY-RAFTAAR scheme of Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of West Bengal, a bio-fertilizer production laboratory has been set up at RAKVK. The semi-automatic commercial production unit is equipped with modern machineries to produce 200 MT bio-fertilizers per annum. The laboratory already started producing bio-fertilizers like Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, PSB, Mycorrhiza and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) both in liquid form & talc based form, from 2023 itself, which has been procured by Dept. of Ag., GoWB under PKVY scheme. These products will help in reducing ill effects of chemical intensive farming. There is an increased demand of good quality bio-fertilizers for sustainable soil nutrient management in our District. It will help in promotion and demonstration of organic farming among the farmers of Sundarbans, as well as training on production and use of bio-fertilizers for the rural youths, students and extension personnel.
KVK is maintaining a quality dairy farm with a potentiality of accommodating 52 animals. Presently the dairy is maintaining 25 milking animal and the gross herd strength is 37. All the animals are cross breed (mostly Jersey and Holstein Friesian) with an average yield potentiality of 15 lt. milk per animal per day. Gross milk yield from the dairy unit is 80 lt per day.
This is a one-year long diploma course for the agri input dealers, affiliated by MANAGE, Hyderabad. This course is one of the important eligibility criteria for conducting pesticide and fertilizer business in the country. RAKVK Nimpith is organizing this course since 2013 for the practicing as well as fresher (would be) fertilizer dealers of the South 24 Parganas district. Presently two batches (17th and 18th) are being conducted with a total of 80 dealers.
As a part of new initiative in Farm Mechanization, ICAR launched Kisan Drone project in 2023, with some selected KVKs. In West Bengal, 6 KVKs has been selected for this project and RAKVK is one of them. Under this project one Kisan Drone (with spraying volume of 10 lt for covering 3 acres in 10 minutes flying) was purchased for conducting demonstration (spraying of Nano urea, Neem pesticide) in 250 ha agriculture land in South 24 Parganas District.
Ramkrishna Ashram Krishi Vigyan Kendra has been promoting Natural Farming technique among the farmers of South 24 Parganas district since 2022 through training, awareness and demonstrations both at the RAKVK-farm and at farmers’ field. Rice cultivation through Natural Farming also demonstrated during kharif , 2023 at the RAKVK Instructional Farm, which performed almost at-par with conventional farming. It was observed that the rice crop grown through natural farming was less affected by leaf folder than the conventional practice of growing rice. It was also observed that there was no incidence of BPH in rice cultivated under natural farming, whereas chemically grown rice observed severe BPH infestation. Cotton and finger millet was cultivated following Natural Farming technique at RAKVK Farm during rabi 2023-2024. For promotion of Natural Farming, RAKVK, Nimpith organized 25 no. of awareness programmes, 18 training programme & 14 nos. of demonstration in different blocks of South 24 Parganas.
Shri Shankar Naskar of village Kaikhali of Kutali Block have received Best Innovative Farmer Award 2023 Conferred by IARI, Pusa, New Delhi during Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela, 2-4 March, 2023 and Best Innovative Farmer Award, Conferred by CRIDA, Hyderabad during 39th Foundation Day, 12 April 2023.
Besides, like every year, RAKVK organizes number of extension activities such as Krishi Mela, Ex-trainee Sammelan, Field Days, formation of Kisan Gosthi and Self Help Groups, adoption of Farm Science Clubs, periodical Clinic Centers, observation of different national and international days such as the World Soil Day, National Fish Farmers’ Day, ICAR Foundation Day, International Yoga Day, Kisan Divas, Science Day, Sundarban Divas, International Women’s Day, Vigilance Week, Poshan Maah, Swachta Pakhwada, Parthenium Week, Kharif Kisan Sammelan etc. Live broadcast of launching of programmes, schemes and technologies of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Ministry of Ag & Farmers Welfare has been organized over time in front of farmers and farm women at the Vivekananda Conference Hall. The KVK has also given thrust on PMFBY, Swachhta Hi Sewa (SHS), PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Programme etc.