Agriculture

DISTRICT: PASCHIM BARDHAMAN

Pashim Bardhaman is one of the districts in the state of West Bengal that is fortunate both in industry and agriculture. The district is enriched with the rivers like the Ajoy and its tributaries in the north and the Barakar, the Damodar and its branches in the south, west and southwest. Besides, there are innumerable khals and gullies all over the area. The notable rivers   and khals are Damodar, Barakar, Ajoy, Nonia, Tamla, Kunur, Tumuni etc.

      The climate of the district is normally moderate. The temperature ranges from 24°C to 44°C in Summer and 6°C to 26°C in Winter. The annual average rainfall of the district is 1300 mm. Though agriculture is largely regulated by rainfall, but developing irrigation system has been very helpful in minimizing the effects of the scattered & uneven distribution of rainfall almost in every year. The Durgapur barrage and Mithon dam have formed two large reservoirs at the south-western and western periphery of the district.

 Soil in the district– Lateritic & Gravelly Soil – This soil is found between the rivers Ajoy and Damodar, part of the district , which is highly porous, poor in organic matter content and acidic in nature.

The district comprises one Agricultural Subdivision namely Durgapur Subdivision.

The major crops grown in the District are Aman & Boro paddy, Potato, Mustard, Til, Wheat, Groundnut, Vegetables, Pulses, etc.

The district has an ample scope to improve the present cropping intensity of 120% with suitable intervention like generation of irrigation facility, increasing water use efficiency, extending latest agricultural technologies etc.