Proceedings of the NICRA Zonal (Zone II) Monitoring Committee Visit to      three KVKs of West Bengal during Feb 17.02.2014 to 21.02.2014

The committee comprising of Dr. H. S. Sen, former Director, CRIJAF (Chairman); Dr. Sumanta Kundu, representing  Director, CRIDA, Hyderabad (Member); Dr. H. Bhattacharya, DEE, UBKV (Member) and Dr. F. H. Rahman, Senior Scientist, ZPD II (Member Secretary) visited     three KVKs  viz. Malda, Coochbehar and S 24 Parganas in West Bengal  during 17 to 21 Feb, 2014. The essential features of the three stations are as follows:

Malda KVK (under UBKV): (i) Occurrence of flood along with prolonged drought spells as     climate induced constraints. Average rainfall in that area is 1450mm. During the month of July-August, severe flood occurs almost  every year. At that time for 2 to 2^1/2 months lands remain submerged. Existing rice varieties in that area do not survive; (ii) Major crops grown are rice, jute, maize, blackgram, wheat & vegetables. Scientists at KVK tried for other   economically profitable crops like turmeric, ginger, yam in their farm which have good prospect in that area.  (iii) Location is Panchayat Dakshin Chandipur under Taluk Manikchak spread over 4 villages in 484 ha area. (iv) Supply of Wheat seeds (variety PBW 343), providing training for mushroom cultivation, low cost vermicomposting with polythene bags, collection and maintenance of mango germplasm are some of the major activities of this KVK.

Coochbehar KVK (under UBKV): (i) High rainfall with erratic and uneven distribution during kharif season; (ii)Major crops are rice, jute, potato, mustard/wheat, banana & vegetables; (iii)     Location is Village Khagribari under Panchayat Patlakhawa having the present population of the village as 6912 with 1686 numbers of households of   which 316, 1174, 133, 61 and 2 numbers  of household belong to landless, marginal, small, medium and large category, respectively, also  indicating gradually decreasing landholding pattern with advancement of time.

South 24 Parganas KVK (under Ramkrishna Mission Ashram): High rainfall and proneness to cyclones and flood coupled with existence of coastal saline soils (Sundarbans delta) are the  essential features; (ii) Major crops are rice and vegetables coupled with sugarcane and fruit crops in limited areas, (iii)The site is located in Village Bongheri having total household of 406         comprising of SC community dominating 96.30% of the total population of 1680 (406         households) spread over cultivable land of 216.53 ha of which 13% is high, 15% is medium and 72% is low land.  

The committee visited each site, discussed with farmers in fields, and also interacted KVK         scientists/ SMSs along with local population including womenfolk and the VCRMC members.   The salient points emanating from the discussion and recommendations of the Monitoring Team are reproduced below centre- and intervention-wise.

Malda KVK

Water resource	Renovation of canals, ponds, shallow tube wells as well as creation of RWH structures were also among the mandates to generate additional water resources. The farmers felt strongly of the need for higher availability of water for irrigation through renovation of existing structures. Database quantifying the improvements made in each should however be recorded. The team visited Narayanpur, a flood prone area, where the farmers showed considerable concern to re-excavate a 2-km long derelict channel to relieve them of drainage congestion. The farmers also showed concern to renovate existing shallow TW and create new shallow TW especially in diara lands. It is recommended to collaborate with the experts in relevant fields for hydrological survey of the ground water before planning for its exploration through re-excavation or fresh excavation of existing ponds and canals, shallow and semi-deep TW particularly in areas having acute shortage of water for irrigation. It would be preferable to combine such practices with creation of drainage facilities, wherever possible, so that the excess water may be re-utilized for irrigation. Farmers showed their concern about checking seepage loss of water from the ponds, for which it would be advisable to take help of experts for appropriate technologies available.
Minimizing irrigation requirement	In-situ moisture conservation in vegetable fields with organic mulch was successfully demonstrated with 45 farmers, Attempt should be made to develop technologies to minimize irrigation requirement particularly for vegetables and other horticultural crops through, say, trickle, sprinkler or pitcher irrigation. Retting of jute in large body of stagnant water was recognized as one of the constraints to produce good quality fibre alongside wastage of water and energy. Newer technologies are reportedly available to minimize water use for which the centre is advised to consult CRIJAF and NIRJAFT. Polythene lining can be recommended in the farm ponds to reduce the seepage losses.
Climate change & crop planning	Multi-tier cropping practices with horticulture crop species were demonstrated with 15 farmers, and blackgram seed production programme was tried successfully as a remunerative enterprise with 25 farmers. Among other practices introduction of turmeric and elephant foot yam was attempted with 60 farmers. Significantly, most of the local varieties were replaced by HYV with 300 farmers under FLD. Among other attempts to increase cropping intensity significant was introduction of vegetables and forage with jute and maize with 150 farmers.  Location specific Integrated Faming Systems (IFS) with maize+okra, maize+bitter gourd+okra,maize+bitter gourd+cowpea, maize+jute+okra were some of the successful demonstrations made with yield advantage as well as ensuring continuous flow of income to the farmers. Hybrid maize may be introduced to ensure higher return. In flood prone areas it is suggested to collaborate with CRRI to introduce deep water/ floating rice varieties along with associated improved cultural practices. Introduction of line sowing in jute, as successfully developed by CRIJAF, will pave the way for minimizing water requirement, which may be an important intervention for climate change.      Increasing cropping intensity leads not only increase in the income of the farmers, but also paves the way to mitigate climate change, for which it is further suggested to felicitate and encourage farmers to create polyhouses at affordable costs and grow seedlings even under off-seasons and under adverse flood prone or water-scarce situations. Growing perennial crops on the raised bunds of the excavated ponds along with pisciculture and/or duckery in the ponds will ensure higher return to farmers. More areas should be brought under IFS developed location-wise with emphasis on use of remunerative crops and demand/access to markets, of which farmers were very much aware of. Technology was demonstrated for vermicompost production using ‘vermibags’ developed by the centre, use of which should be spread to other areas/ farmers to encourage more use of organic composts at affordable prices and build up soil organic C status, a basic necessity to mitigate climate change. It will be advisable to compile relevant data on climatic parameters (minimum 25 years) for probability analysis of rainfall and atmospheric temperature, and predict therefrom the future climate change scenario based on various climate change models available. The centre/ZPD may take initiative in this respect. This will facilitate generate future crop and water resource planning in scientific mode.
Soil resource	Benchmark survey should be conducted, using NBSS&LUP or any other appropriate agencies having the relevant expertise, to establish the soil taxonomies along with documenting other soil properties, for the three representatives land situations having distinct land and water availability characteristics. The KVK, with assistance from CRIDA, may work out ‘soil health’ indices , which together with benchmark data will help facilitate appropriate crop and water management strategies with focus on mitigating climate change.
Conservation tillage	Efficacy of zero tillage was successfully demonstrated in wheat in 8.66 ha area with 65 farmers. There was cost saving under zero tillage in contrast to traditional practice  under each component like land preparation, seed, irrigation water use, fertilizer, weeding, harvest & disposal leading to benefit-cost ratio worked out as 2.36 in case of the former in contrast to 1.22 for the latter. Farmers showed considerable interest in this practice, and the centre/ ZPD may take necessary initiative to involve more farmers under the practice, recognized as one the significant practices for climate change mitigation, and extend necessary facilities as a special intervention. Necessary practices may be developed for newer range of crops like maize, jute, etc.
Custom hiring of agricultural machineries	There were considerable interest shown by the farmers for custom hiring of agricultural machineries. The existing facility is of good use and may be augmented to provide such facilities like wheat thresher, maize sheller (bigger size), spray machines (for tall trees/orchards like mango), multi-row jute seed sowing machine, jute hand held weeding implements (consult CRIJAF), etc. There were demands for bigger tractors for custom hiring.
Alternate farming practice & roles of women folks	In-house production (low-cost technology) of azolla as poultry feed has been developed, which is commendable. An animal shelter also has been developed, and such practice should be spread to other farmers as well. The animal health is found to be weak in general. It is praiseworthy to find good number of animal health camps organized, but this should be increased to many more, preferably at each three months interval. It is suggested to seek for much larger tie-ups with live department officials due to the want of experts in the KVK. Improved breeds should be introduced. Such animals, other than cattles, like poultry, duckery, goatery, piggery may be introduced and scientifically reared. Other alternate farming practices like apiary, mushroom, ornamental fish cultivation, etc. having market demand/ access should be introduced, particularly for landless or marginal farmers. Women may take significant participation in most of them listed above, as well as for preparation of handicrafts using locally available raw materials, as acts to reduce drudgeries. Model alternate farming practices along with agriculture at the epicenter should be introduced location-wise to ensure continuous flow of income on sustainable basis. This will also ensure production and use of more of organic composts for agriculture and build up soil organic C.    Sudan grass and cowpea have been successfully demonstrated as fodder crops in barren or marginal lands. In waterlogged or flood prone areas it is suggested to introduce Coix lachryma jobi, for which the centre may take the help of CSSRI, Regional Station Canning Town.
VCRMC	There should be more women participation, and the committee should be registered, for which ZPD may take necessary initiative. VCRMC is advised to  organize more awareness meetings among the famers of different land holding categories as well as in adjoining villages.
Marketing strategy	It is advisable for VCRMC to form cooperatives and fetch higher return for the farmers themselves by avoiding middlemen. The SHGs may also be useful for this purpose. The centre may advise and encourage them.
Introduction of new plant species	The centre/ ZPD may take initiative to for the farmer’s registration of some new pulse species with PPVFRA identified by them. This will greatly encourage them.
General facilities	It was heartening to make note the serious constraints under which the centre was working. This includes lack of approach road to the KVK, being possibly non-existent in the rainy season, for which UBKV being the controlling centre should take immediate steps. The laboratory facilities are meager, and logistic supports like electricity, housing, etc. are also weak.  Immediate steps should be taken to fill up all the vacant posts of SMS.    For better maintenance of the farm, it has been suggested to explore the possibility of contractual assignment to private agencies if permitted by the university rules.

Coochbehar KVK

Water resource	Thirty-two percent of total cultivated area is irrigated using bore well by lifting ground water. Due to erratic distribution of rainfall observed it is recommended to renovate existing pond for water harvesting, store and recycle the same for use in crop production during winter experiencing minimal rains. Though there exist a number of small and large size water bodies most of them are seasonal and cannot be used as source of irrigation during critical stages of rabi crops because of the fact that (a) water holding capacity of the soil is very poor due to its coarse texture, and (b) average depth of ponds ranges from 5.5 - 7.0 ft from the ground level. Total 15 numbers of ponds having average depth of 5-7 ft. were selected for renovation at different corners of the village which however remain dry from December onwards but ponds having depth of 9 ft. or more can retain water throughout the year. Considering this, depth of selected ponds was increased from 5.5 - 7.0 ft. up to 10.5 - 11 ft  (from ground level), so that water to be stored in the water bodies can be used for life saving irrigation to rabi crops with special emphasis on vegetables during mid December to mid March. Raised bed and furrow method of irrigation in vegetables is also recommended for saving irrigation water and fuel. Besides, attempts should be made to check the seepage loss of water using appropriate technologies for which necessary collaboration may be sought from relevant agencies. There are scopes to renovate large number of silted up ponds. The existing silted-up drainage canals need to be excavated and one-way sluice gates tobe provided in order to retain water within it for irrigation. However, It is recommended to collaborate with the experts in relevant fields for hydrological survey of the ground water before planning for its exploration through re-excavation or fresh excavation of existing ponds and canals, shallow and semi-deep TW particularly in areas having acute shortage of water for irrigation. It would be preferable to combine such practices with creation of drainage facilities, wherever possible, so that the excess water may be re-utilized for irrigation.
Minimizing irrigation requirement	Organic mulching was used in tomato involving 30 farmers covering 2.54 ha area, poly-mulching in banana involving 9 farmers covering 1ha area. In tomato there was saving of 11.76 ha-cm irrigation water (29.55 %), reduction in cost of irrigation by Rs. 3,420.00 /ha, 30.21% increase in WUE, less weed population, and fuel savings @ 57 lit. diesel/ha. In banana there was saving of 9.94 ha-cm irrigation water (29.8 %), reduction in cost of irrigation by Rs. 3,090.00/ha, 30.72 % increase in WUE, less weed population, and fuel savings @ 51.49 lit. diesel/ha. It is therefore suggested to use organic / poly-mulching materials in vegetables and poly-mulching in banana for in-situ moisture conservation and thereby to save irrigation water as well as fuel. Water cucumber could be one of the uses for poly mulching. Keeping in view the unimodal rainfall distribution it was envisaged that Broad Bed & Furrow method of irrigation might reduce irrigation water requirement for cultivation of rabi vegetables especially in the terai zone. For these purpose 28 demonstration units of brinjal covering 2.20 ha and 22 demonstration unit of cucumber covering 2.30 ha area were brought under BBF method of irrigation. This resulted in the saving of 8.14 ha-cm irrigation water (29.50 %), reduction in cost of irrigation by Rs. 2,363/ha, 30.85 %increase in WUE, and fuel savings @ 39.37 lit. diesel/ha in cucumber, and  saving of 10.10 ha-cm irrigation water (30.5 %), reduction in cost of irrigation by Rs. 2,610/ha, 30.72 % increase in WUE, and fuel savings @ 43.50 lit. diesel/ha in brinjal. It is therefore strongly suggested to use BBF method to raise rabi vegetables. It is also recommended to develop appropriate technologies like trickle, sprinkler, or pitcher method of irrigation especially for rabi vegetables and orchards in order to minimize water requirement substantially. In boro rice, SRI method of cultivation was found beneficial from demonstrations conducted in 2.46 ha area with the results of (i) production of 259 g more grain per cu.m. of water use, (ii) 24.91% saving in irrigation water, (iii) reduction in irrigation cost by Rs. 8225 per ha, 37.50% yield increment, and finally (iv) saving of 1457 lit. (3211-1754) of water per kg. of grain. SRI method is therefore strongly recommended for boro  rice in the terai region. However, on each methodology, it is necessary to make ‘impact anaysis’ scientifically in order to validate the results.
Climate change and  crop planning	Average annual rainfall of the village was fairly high (3000 mm), 75 % of which is received during June – September. Decadal trends of rainfall indicate that average rainfall during the decade decreased by almost 500 mm in each decade as reflected in average annual rainfall nearly during 80s, 3500 mm during 90s and 3000 mm during last decade. Length of winter also decreasing across the decade. In view of the trends on changing climate observed over the last three decades, it is suggested to conduct probability analyses of rainfall and temperature, and based on this the future trend of the climatic scenario with the help of climate change models available to work out scientifically future cropping and water use strategies to mitigate climate change.    The terai region is essentially rice-oriented with jute grown profitably (for good quality fibre produced) in majority of the areas. The major cropping systems are jute-rice-fallow, fallow-rice-fallow, jute-rice potato, fallow-rice-potato, jute-rice-wheat/mustard/rice/vegetable, fallow-rice- wheat/mustard/rice/vegetable, jute-vegetable-fallow. Large area remains fallow for a major part of the season. In medium-lowland situations rice variety Swarna Sub-1, a submergence tolerant variety has been identified (foundation seeds were collected from BCKV), while Gotra-Bidhan-1, a short duration (115-125 day) variety for early maturing has been identified through NICRA. In NICRA village site, some farmers are going towards cultivation of direct seeded rice particularly in upland when the rainfall is scanty.  Considering the problem, KVK Cooch behar tried to promote brown-manuring  (Sesbania co-culture) in direct-seeded rice.  In this method, germinated rice seeds were broadcast with dhaincha seeds and dhaincha plants were killed at 25 DAS with 2,4-D @0.5 kg ai/ha and incorporated with paddy weeder at 35 DAS.  KVK Coochbehar demonstrated the technology satisfactorily in 1 ha involving 6 farmers. For prevalence of stem rot disease ((Macrophomina phaseolina) in jute JBO-2003(H) has been identified to overcome the problem.  Major problem of banana cultivation is development of scar on fruit by scarring beetle (Colaspis hypochlora) under hot &  humid climate of terai region. Appropriate technology was developed (with bunch cover) by NICRA resulting in (i) infestation of scarring beetle reduced by 95 %, shooting-harvest interval reduced by 8 days, return per plant increased by Rs. 27.00, and 11.49 % increase in net income. There are scopes to increase cropping intensity by introducing wide array of vegetables suitable to low soil pH and associated features, and having low requirements with good market demand/ access. Growing perennial crops on the raised bunds of the excavated ponds along with pisciculture and/or duckery in the ponds will ensure higher return to farmers.
Soil resource	Soils of the village are mostly coarse textured (sandy loam), poor in water retention, having low pH, poor in nutrient status and very often characterized by boron and zinc deficiency. There are reasonably good source of organic materials viz., Natural vegetations (Forest and agro-forestry species), Crop residues as soil amendments, FYM as bulky organic manures, and Lime as soil amendment. Since the quality of compost used the farmers is not good the centre initiated demonstration programme (50 nos.) successfully  on preparation of compost through NADEP method using locally available organic sources like cowdung, farm/kitchen waste and other locally available organic materials. Efforts to be made to introduce vermicompost using appropriate technology. It is recommended to conduct benchmark survey of the soils through appropriate agency like NBSS&LUP having the expertise. The KVK, with assistance from CRIDA, may work out ‘soil health’ indices , which together with benchmark data will help facilitate appropriate crop and water management strategies with focus on mitigating climate change.
Conservation tillage	Zero tillage technology in wheat for cutting down the time required for land preparation as well as conservation of resources was taken up. Large scale demonstration programme was carried out over 28.80 ha involving 179 farmers, and the results obtained were 34.14 % increase in grain yield, saving of 26.02 lit.  of diesel per ha towards land preparation and irrigation, saving of 43 mandays per ha towards entire growing season of wheat, saving of Rs. 8,041 per ha towards mandays requirement & Rs. 1,166 per ha towards fuel consumption during land preparation. This technology should be expanded to other areas being a key technology to mitigate climate change.
Custom hiring of agricultural machineries	A good number of farm equipments  (Multicrop thresher, Reaper, Zero tillage machine, Motorised Knapsack mist blower,  SRI marker, Water pump, Paddy weeder) were used for custom hiring by farmers and the total revenue earned was above Rs. 23,000/- annually. There were demands by the farmers to augment this facility.
Alternate farming practice & roles of women folks	For alternate farming following steps were taken viz., Vaccination and animal Health Camp, Promotion of fodder and Azolla as alternative cattle feed. It is suggested to develop in-house production (low-cost technology) of azolla as poultry feed. Animal shelter structure may be developed. The animal health is found to be weak in general. The animal health camps should be increased to many more, preferably at each three months interval at each site. It is suggested to seek for much larger tie-ups with live department officials. Improved breeds should be introduced. Such animals, other than cattles, like poultry, duckery, goatery, piggery may be introduced and scientifically reared. Other alternate farming practices like apiary, mushroom, ornamental fish cultivation, etc. having market demand/ access should be introduced, particularly for landless or marginal farmers. Women may take significant participation in most of them listed above, as well as for preparation of handicrafts (say jute handicrafts, sital pati, etc.) using locally available raw materials, as acts to reduce drudgeries. Model alternate farming practices along with agriculture at the epicenter, should be introduced location-wise to ensure continuous flow of income on sustainable basis. This will also ensure production and use of more of organic composts for agriculture and build up soil organic C.   Significant steps should be taken to identify fodder crops location-wise in collaboration with NIFD. The team noted with great satisfaction an extra-ordinary initiative with an array of activities for various developmental works, both in-house and also in field, partly relevant to act on climate change mitigation, by a section of womenfolk in a hamlet under the same village Khagribari, which could be a model for others. The concerned SMS (Home Science) also deserves high appreciation for her leadership and imaginative quality.
VCRMC	There should be more women participation, and the committee should be registered, for which ZPD may take necessary initiative. VCRMC is advised to  organize more awareness meetings among the famers of different land holding categories as well as in adjoining villages.
Marketing strategy	It is advisable for VCRMC to form cooperatives and fetch higher return for the farmers themselves by avoiding middlemen. The SHGs may also be useful for this purpose. The centre may advise and encourage them.
General facilities	Since the KVK site does not represent low pH soil, a typical characteristic of the terai region soil it is strongly suggested that UBKV may adopt another site for KVK representing the typical terai features so as to validate the results through demonstrations.

South 24 Parganas KVK

Water resource	Based on PRA survey it was revealed that the area is mostly rainfed (86 %) with rice only grown during kharif, and out of the rest 14 % rainwater conserved in pond meets 10 % and canals 4 % for rabi crops. Underground water is hardly available, since the good quality water aquifer is located at large depths, to meet irrigation needs through tube or dug wells at the farmers’ own initiatives.  It is recommended to collaborate with the experts in relevant fields for hydrological survey of the ground water before planning for its exploration through re-excavation or fresh excavation of existing ponds and canals, semi-deep TW throughout the area having acute shortage of water for irrigation. It would be preferable to combine such practices with creation of drainage facilities, wherever possible, so that the excess water may be re-utilized for irrigation. It is necessary that appropriate agency could be employed through collaboration for which the centre/ZPD may take initiative for drawing desired plan for water use pattern in long term perspectives since this component is considered a key area to mitigate climate change. However, the centre has done a commendable work to protect the area from flood/ saline water inundation over a few km stretches during the last catastrophic cyclone (‘Aila’) which devastated a major part of Sundarbans.  Besides, raised bed and furrow method of irrigation in vegetables is also recommended to create additional water resources. From excavation/renovation of ponds, 110 farmers were benefitted. More number of farmers are interested to participate in NICRA project activities. Increasing cropping intensity, reduction in migration from Aila affected area are some of the impact of this project.
Minimizing irrigation requirement	It appears that no attempt has been made to minimize irrigation requirement for crops, which is also recognized as a key strategy to mitigate climate change. In-situ moisture conservation through poly or organic mulching in vegetable fields could be one of the methods to conserve soil moisture and thereby decrease irrigation requirement for rabi crops. Emphasis may be given to develop technologies to minimize irrigation requirement particularly for vegetables and other horticultural crops through, say, trickle, sprinkler or pitcher irrigation for which appropriate agencies may be taken help of.
Climate change & crop planning	It is suggested to conduct probability analyses of rainfall and temperature with the help of at least 25-year data, and based on this the future trend of the climatic scenario with the help of climate change models available to work out scientifically future cropping and water use strategies to mitigate climate change.  Adequate scope exists to plan future cropping models with appropriate water use models.  Cropping intensity in the study area is 122.13% which is considerably below     that at the state level.During rabi season, vegetables and pulses are the principal crops.  Pulses are particularly salt sensitive and therefore necessary care shouldbe exercised to select suitable salt tolerant pulses for the reason that the soils are potentially saline in nature. Vegetables should be identified having low water   requirements. Since lowlands (30-60 cm waterlogging) comprise of 72 % of the total cultivated lands in kharif high yielding semi-deep water rice varieties        tolerant to this situation need to be identified. It appears that adequate efforts    have not been made to identify such rice varieties, for which collaboration with CSSRI, Regional Research Station Canning Town or CRRI, Cuttack need to be sought for. Besides, the area is flood prone, for which the areas susceptible  to   deep submergence should be identified, and flood tolerant/ floating, deep water tolerant rice may be identified through active collaboration with CRRI, and the varieties may be conserved for use in the event of such adverse situation to arise in future. Options for tissue culture of mangroves should be found out.     Every attempt should be made to increase cropping intensity through introduction of suitable multi-tier horticulture crop species having good market demand/access. Suitable forage crops should be identified for growing in marginal land situations since there is acute crisis for it in view of poor animal health. Suitable hybrid fodder maize can be tried for milch animals. A location-specific appropriate crop calendar may be developed depending on land situation and water availability. Use of agro-forestry species and incorporation of green leaves as manures in soils through periodical cuttings may help enrich soil organic C to mitigate climate change trend.   Increasing cropping intensity leads not only increase in the income of the farmers, but also paves the way to mitigate climate change, for which it is further suggested to felicitate and encourage farmers to create polyhouses at affordable costs and grow seedlings even under off-seasons and under adverse flood prone or water-scarce situations. Growing perennial crops on the raised bunds of the excavated ponds along with pisciculture and/or duckery in the ponds will ensure higher return to farmers. More areas should be brought under IFS developed location-wise with emphasis on use of remunerative crops and demand/access to markets, of which farmers were very much aware of. Technology may be developed and demonstrated for vermicompost production, use of which should be spread to other areas/ farmers to encourage more use of organic composts at affordable prices and build up soil organic C status, a basic necessity to mitigate climate change.
Soil resource	Only 28 % of the cultivated lands are medium and low lands, and the rest 72 % are lowlands. It did not appear to the team that the area is typically salt affected, which is an essential feature of the Sundarbans area, the latter playing a very important role to mitigate climate change. Coastal saline area, as it typically exists in Sundarbans,  comprises of large water bodies i.e., back barrier environments, salt marshes, mangroves, sea grasses, beaches, to speak the least, having significant role to mitigate climate change, in particular, for the entire adjoining land mass. Moreover, it forms as the first line of defence to protect the land mass from the backlashes due to increasing number of cyclones taking place due to climate change with time. Attention is particularly drawn to the ICAR/NICRA authorities to pay attention to this role the coastal ecosystem say, Sundarbans, is likely to play, and assign this task to a host of appropriate agencies for an in-depth study. As for the present site, it is not expected for KVK to conduct such in-depth studies, but they may have an additional site typically deeper into Sundarbans area to generate some basic information and work out strategies to mitigate climate change for the coastal flood/ cyclone prone areas high rainfall areas. Based on these preliminary information generated a fresh initiative may be undertaken by ICAR/NICRA to launch an in-depth study through a host of institutes carefully identified as proposed above. The present site does not characterize the typical harsh environment of Sundarbans even to the limited extent since the soils are not typically saline in nature. However, the detailed data are lacking on soil characteristics, and it is suggested that an appropriate agency say, NBSS&LUP may be collaborated with to conduct benchmark survey in the area. Since salinity is highly dynamic in nature both temporarily and spatially, KVK may arrange for portable EC and pH metre for quick assessment of the parameters in situ especially during rabi season.      The KVK, with assistance from CRIDA, may work out ‘soil health’ indices , which together with benchmark data will help facilitate appropriate crop and water management strategies with focus on mitigating climate change.
Conservation tillage	Efforts should be made to standardize and introduce zero tillage practices, known for its efficacy to mitigate climate change, for non-rice crops to be identified for this purpose. However, since majority of the soils are medium to heavy texture in nature, only handful of non-tuber vegetables may be suitable for this purpose.
Custom hiring of agricultural machineries	The facility may be augmented suiting particularly to the needs of low land holding areas.
Alternate farming practice & roles of women folks	Livestock in the present site comprises of indigenous cow (9.23%), goat (18.46%), special type of sheep known as “garole” (13.84%), duck (27.69%) and local poultry birds (30.78%). The animal health is found to be weak in general. The animal health camps should be increased to many more, preferably at each three months interval at each site. It is suggested to seek for much larger tie-ups with live department officials. Improved breeds should be introduced. Such animals, other than cattles, like poultry, duckery, goatery, piggery may be introduced and scientifically reared. Other alternate farming practices like apiary, mushroom, ornamental fish cultivation, etc. having market demand/ access should be introduced, particularly for landless or marginal farmers. Women may take significant participation in most of them listed above, as well as for preparation of handicrafts (say jute handicrafts, sital pati, etc.) using locally available raw materials, as acts to reduce drudgeries. Model alternate farming practices along with agriculture at the epicenter, should be introduced location-wise to ensure continuous flow of income on sustainable basis. This will also ensure production and use of more of organic composts for agriculture and build up soil organic C.   Significant steps should be taken to identify fodder crops location-wise in collaboration with NIFD. Promotion of fodder and Azolla as alternative cattle feed may be explored. It is suggested to develop in-house production (low-cost technology) of azolla as poultry feed and vermicompost for use in soil. Animal shelter structure may be developed.
VCRMC	There should be more women participation, and the committee should be registered, for which ZPD may take necessary initiative. VCRMC is advised to organize more awareness meetings among the famers of different land holding categories as well as in adjoining villages.
Marketing strategy	It is advisable for VCRMC to form cooperatives and fetch higher return for the farmers themselves by avoiding middlemen. The SHGs may also be useful for this purpose. The centre may advise and encourage them.
General facilities	As suggested above, another site deeper into Sundarbans area may be identified since the present alone does not represent the typical harsh coastal high rainfall flood or cyclone prone area in order to generate the minimum basic information before launching more in-depth studies by separate agencies, the latter to be looked after by ICAR.

Dated 14 April, 2014                                                                                                                               

(H.S.Sen)  

   Chairman       

 Monitoring Committee

NICRA KVKs Zone II