## Policy Summary: Sustainable Agricultural Practices in Jalpaiguri
This document summarizes the Indian government's efforts to promote sustainable agricultural practices and pesticide-free cultivation in the Jalpaiguri district, as outlined in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2559, to be answered on August 5, 2025.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has conducted training and awareness programs in Jalpaiguri, collaborating with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and State Agricultural Universities. These programs aim to educate farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), weed control, organic farming, and natural farming, as well as the safe and judicious use of bio-fertilizers, biopesticides, and alternatives to chemical pesticides in field and horticultural crops.
In 2025, the ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (ICAR-CRIJAF) conducted 214 training and demonstration programs in six blocks of Jalpaiguri under the Jute ICARE (Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise) project. These programs focused on line sowing, mechanical weeding, and improved retting practices, with special emphasis on using the microbial formulation CRIJAF SONA to speed up retting and enhance fiber quality. These efforts aimed to boost productivity, reduce labor dependency, and minimize post-harvest losses.
Furthermore, the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Regional Station, Kalimpong, conducted a training program from February 22-24, 2025, at Madhya Khuttimari, Jalpaiguri, under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP). This program focused on entrepreneurship development and livelihood diversification for tribal farmers, training fifty participants on value addition, market linkages, and the integration of allied activities to enhance income. Kitchen gardening kits were distributed to promote nutritional security, and eco-friendly pest control methods, including fruit fly and yellow sticky traps, were demonstrated.
The government is also implementing the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) to enhance agriculture's resilience to climate change, with several schemes initiated to promote sustainability across India, including West Bengal. However, district-level information related to NMSA implementation is not maintained centrally.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal: A district in the state of West Bengal, India, where training programs on sustainable agriculture are being conducted.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): An autonomous organisation responsible for co-ordinating agricultural education and research in India.
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): Agricultural extension centers in India, often collaborating with ICAR.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A sustainable approach to pest control that combines various methods.
ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (ICAR-CRIJAF): An ICAR institute conducting training programs in Jalpaiguri district under the Jute ICARE project.
Jute ICARE - Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise: A project focused on improving jute cultivation and retting practices.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): A government initiative to make agriculture more resilient to climate change.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2559
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05TH AUGUST, 2025
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
2559. DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
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
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (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 bio-
fertilizers, 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 Jute-
ICARE (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 post-
harvest 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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