Under the state plan, for the current financial year 2021-22, to increase crop production and productivity in the agriculture sector and to demonstrate advanced agricultural technology, the State government has started work on the plan to develop Krishak Pathshala and Birsa Village under Integrated Birsa Development Scheme in State agricultural fields.
The Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries will train the farmers in scientific methods on capacity development and perception through Krishak Patshala which will be operationalised across the State very soon.
Director Agriculture, Nesha Oraon informed that under the State plan, work has started for the current financial year 2021-22, to increase crop production and productivity in the agriculture sector and to demonstrate advanced agricultural technology, the State Government on the plan to develop Krishak Pathshala and Birsa Village under Integrated Birsa Development Scheme in state agricultural fields.
“Agriculture and allied activities are the mainstay of the livelihood of the people of Jharkhand. About 75 per cent of the State's population resides in rural areas and is dependent on agriculture for its livelihood. Agriculture and allied sectors include crop production, livestock and fisheries and others. It continues to be the major sub-sector in crop production with 54.20 percent. Agriculture plays a significant role in generating employment and livelihood in the State's economy. With the priority to give further impetus to this, the Government will encourage farmers for improved farming,” said Oraon.
The Department’s Director further said that targeted convergence of schemes has been fixed between the Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperation and other departments of the Government. “In this, to develop irrigation facilities by mulching technology in the cluster based Birsa village, to provide economic reinforcement to the beneficiary farmers through forward linkage service. Also, post-harvest infrastructure is to be provided, so that the produce can be kept safe,” she added.
At the same time, it also includes making the farmers aware about the schemes of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperation Department and other government departments, she said.
According to the plan, in the first phase of the model of Integrated Birsa Vikas Yojana, 17 farmers' schools will be developed in different agricultural areas of the State. Then in the next three years, 100 Krishak Pathshalas will be developed in a phased manner. In each Krishak Pathshala, 3 to 5 Birsa villages will be covered under cluster approach.
In Krishak Pathshala, farmers of Birsa village will be trained in scientific manner about 50 -100 farmers per village capacity development and sustainable farming. Supply chain, custom hearing center and market linkage facility will be made available to the produced goods through Krishak Pathshala. All the schemes run by the Government will be converged. Cluster based mulching facility, deep irrigation, bowl, road, delivery pipe, Submersible pump, carat and other storage facilities will be provided.
Oraon said that a specialist agency related to agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries will be empaneled by the Directorate of Agriculture for three years. “Along with this, a 3-4 member state level PMU will be formed by the Directorate of Agriculture for three years. The work and responsibility will be given to the executive agency and the PMU constituted. Through this training and capacity development of farmers and labourers of Birsa village will be taken on remuneration and the work done by them will be paid. Maintaining the farmer's school in order will include taking the instructor as a technical expert from Birsa Agricultural University on remunerative honorarium. Providing support for training programs and training materials and preparing plans for market linkage will also be included,” she added.
