Summary

The district is characterised by a undulating topography caused by the Chhotanagpur plateau protruding through the western borders of the district from the neighbouring Jharkhand State. The terrain has a gradient towards the East and most of the rivers and drainage channels flow towards the east and merge with the Ganges or Bhagirathi. Besides these there are a large number of seasonal surface water bodies which serve as a source of irrigation for agricultural activities. 65 % of the net cropped area in the district is under assured irrigation.

The irrigation structure having a cultivable command area upto 2000 Ha. is classified under minor irrigation. The groundwater resources in 95 villages of Birbhum district is reported to have excess flouride content. Already SWID has stopped giving clearance in Rampurhat I and Nalhati I blocks .

As per the 3rd census of MI works in West Bengal, the district level abstract of various structures are as under :

The basic data as reported by the Agriculture Department about the blocks in respect of agriculture and irrigation are detailed below.

It may be observed from the above table that 73% irrigation has been made available to the Net Cultivated Area of the District which indicates that there is still much scope for MI activities.

i) State Water Investigation Directorate which has one district office in Suri that help and guide people in construction of MI structure . SWID has completed Ground Water assessment based on GEC norms in 2001. As per the assessment, out of 19 blocks, 3 blocks Viz. Nalhati II, Nanoor, Murarai II are categorised as ‘critical’ where as others are under ‘Safe Category’. The level of development in Khoyrasole block is near about 50 % and that in Suri-II and Illambazar blocks are around 40 %. The Department has since stopped giving clearance for submersible pumpsets in the blocks of Nanoor and Labpur.In the remaining blocks the level of development is well below 30 % indicating a large potential available for development. Incidentally groundwater clearance has been put on hold by SWID in parts of Rampurhat-I and Nalhati-I blocks where fluoride contamination beyond the human tolerance level prescribed by WHO is found in the underlying aquifer. The contamination is mainly found in the areas bordering Jharkhand state.

The block Level summary on Culturable Command Area in respect of Ground Water and Surface water is given below :

From the above table it may be observed that balance between MI structures relating to Ground water and surface water is more or less equal.

The Block level position of Actual Irrigation is summarised as under:

It may be seen from both the tables as above that the actual irrigation is much less than the potential created. In other words efforts would have to made to enhance the utilisation rate of the potential already created, in addition to utilise the balance exploitable potential . The reasons for the low level of progress among otheres is the energisation of the pumpsets. The WBSEB has recently hiked the cost of power connection and the Agri- Irrigation department is now finding it difficult to incorporate the said hike in their allocation for each Tube well. In addition to the above problem, the electrified Mouzas are not intensified. Out of total 2232 mouzas, 2217 mouzas are electrified and only 530 mouzas have been intensified by 31 March 2003. and also there is problem of low voltage at the tail end of the service line . RIDF funding for Rural Electrification and construction of sub – stations is required to improve the position so that there can be wide spread use of the Electric Pump sets.

The total Command area of the Mayurakshi River Project and the Hinglow River Project put together is about 155.88 thousand hectares and the rest are covered by various surface and ground water irrigation structures.as stated above Of late, the water supply from the Mayurakshi River canal system is reported to be not reaching the highenders during the Rabi season as the dead water storage capacity has been reduced drastically due to heavy siltation and indiscriminate channeling / diversification from the main canal system by the local populace. In such areas, surface or ground water can be exploited subject to clearance from SWID. The Agri-Irrigation division and the Agri-Mech division are installing ground and surface water lifting devices but a planned approach/ process is not followed or adhered to. In the Hinglow River canal system the division can devise canal lift irrigation with the assisitance of the WBSEB for energisation of the pumps. So far the WBSEB has been working in tandem with both the irrigation departments. However, the power situation in the district is not satisfactory. As such providing of standby diesel pumpsets in the event of power failure may be a thought of proposition. Availiability of Petrol and Deisel may not be problem as the Government has issued licences for opening of such outlets in almost all major connecting roads in the district. Breakdown of the pumpsets are a major problem. The farmers are left high and dry in such situations. Service centres providing pump repairing facilities should be set up in the block level and major production constraints through bank finance. This would lead to generation of employment also.

The Agri Irrigation Division has been instaliing irrigation systems. However, advanced irrigation equipments for drip & sprinkler system are not high in their priority list. Khoyrasole, Dubrajpur or for that matter the entire red laterite zone bordering the state of Jharkhand can benefit from the advanced irrigation techniques. Horticulture plants can thrive in such areas. The Department of Horticulture may like to make an in depth analysis in this regard.

Every June, the water stored in the Mayurakshi River Canal system is released for maintenance of the locks gates. During the same time, efforts can be made to excavate the storage area so that the depth is increased and the water holding capacity is augmented. The North and South bound canals also require excavation. As the excavation of mud or silt is a time bound programme, heavy machinery may be involved.

ii) Under RIDF - V tranche Agri-Irrigation Division has implemented 30 LDTWs and 15 MDTWs in different parts of the district and this has brought 450 Ha. under assured irrigation. Similarly around 1080 Ha. of farm land is being provided with assured irrigation by the Agri-Mechanical Division through installation of 50 mini-RLIs and one major RLI under the same RIDF tranche.out of which 42 have been completed till date.

iii) Under RIDF VII the Agri-Irrigation Division has implemented 40 LDTWs covering about 200 ha under assured irrigation. The three RLI (Major) projects have not taken off due to several factors and could be considered as non starter schemes.

iv) Under RIDF - VIII Agri-Mechanical Division are in the process to install 10 mini-RLIs. Similarly Agri-Irrigation Division are in the process of implementing 10 MDTWs, 52 LDTWs,. These MI structures when installed will provide an additional irrigation to about 712 Ha. of farm area during the next few years.

The avavilability of areas to be irrigated is about 27 % of the Net Irrigated area . As such the structures proposed to be constructed for exploiting the potential are summarised in the tables given below .Taking into account the balance resource available, the ideal phasing of the potential in terms of feasible number of MI structures in the district has been projected over the next 13 years co-terminating with the XII Five Year Plan. Accordingly the annual target for the year 2005-06 has been projected as under.

Infrastructure requirement for Minor Irrigation structure in the district with total projections for the year 2005-06.

The banking sector as well as the private sector is expected to finance about 60% out of the total stakes in the total MI potential for the district. The rest 40% may be borne by the government.

A few units may be sponsored under SGSY as a group activity and SCP/ TSP as well.

The block-wise Activity-wise allocations of the various investments under Minor Irrigation during the year 2005-06 are indicated in Annexure-I.

The Annual Credit Plan target and ground level credit for last three years are as under :-

(P= No. of units F= amount in Rs. lakh)

i) CARDBs (Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank) have played a major role in the disbursement of credit to the sector. Mayurakshi Gramin Bank have also disbursed some loan for installation of MI structures. Contribution of the Commercial Banks not up to expectations.The introduction of OFWM has also enhanced the achievement rate of Banks in the district. The achievement under OFWM during this year 2003-04 is 47 % in terms of physical units . Inasmuch as 517 cases were disbursed against a target of 1075.

ii) Based on the trend of the previous years and also the advent of OFWM which has performed well by registering a disbursement of 544 and 517 cases against a target of 1185 and 1075 cases for the year 2002-03 and 2003-04 respectively, it is estimated that the credit flow for the year 2005-06 will be of the order of Rs.462.00 lakh.

Resource Gap

The resource gap will be Rs. 1824.36 lakh. The gap is expected to be filled by RIDF funding of sinking of shallow and deep tubewells.

i) Banks have to identify more numbers of farmers in their service area and motivate them to install MI structures for a cluster of farms so as to facilitate assured irrigation and ensure optimum utilisation .

ii) Banks ought to strive to achieve the targets fixed by themselves under the Annual Credit Plan and also undertake critical review to overcome constraints.

iii) In addition to i) above, banks may also try to explore the scope of disbursing loans to farmers groups for MI activities.

(b) Development Department of the Govt.

i) SWID may finalise at the earliest the revised Ground water assessment and categorisation of blocks. Ground water clearance is not being given for Nanoor and Labpur Blocks as they have reached the saturation point.

ii) The State Government may construct artificial structures particularly in rainfall deficient areas to facilitate recharging of the acquifers.The Government may also take up the construction of farm ponds. It would help in setting up of low lift points which can be an additional source of irrigation water

iii) The State Government may advise the district authorities to formulate more schemes for installation of HDTW, MDTW, LDTW and RLI structures to be implemented with loan assistance from NABARD under RIDF for augmentation of irrigation potential for the benefit of farmers. System Improvement Projects may also be recommended for sanction under RIDF . This would facilitate energisation of all MI structures without any constraints of overloading of transformers therby ensuring continuous power supply.

The growing population has brought about tremendous pressure, both on the land and ecology of Birbhum district. As per agro-climatic classification, Birbhum falls under the Lower Gangetic Plain Region, but the soil in more than half of the blocks is red laterite with very low clay and /or alluvium content. However, the eastern parts of the district have deposits of both old and new alluvium. In order to meet the challenges of sustaining this population with food and shelter, planned efforts are to be made to a) increase productivity in the existing farms, b) bring new areas covering culturable wasteland, barren and fallow lands into the fold of agriculture, c) reclaim and/or convert highly acidic or alkaline lands, and sub-merged and marshy lands for productive purposes through soil treatment and improving drainage facilities. The aforementioned land development activities may be broadly classified as a) On-Farm Development, b) Land Reclamation, and c) Management of waterlogged soil and drainage, d) Re- excavation of existing silted of ponds, drainage course e) check dam, gully plugging and other soil conservation structures f) Watershed Management g) innovative activities viz., vermicomposting.

The entire gamut of land development activities, including micro-watershed development, are looked after and attended to by the Soil and Water Management Directorate under the Department of Agriculture in close coordination with the District Agriculture Office. The department is headed by one Deputy Director and and has two wings viz., a) detailed soil survey and b) soil and water management with its compliment of manpower. Besides the Deputy Director’s office at Suri there is another office at Rampurhat. Soil conservation works are done in the district on watershed basis and the department undertakes detailed survey work and publishes detailed report with map pertaining to each of the identified watersheds. As per information made available by the Soil Conservation Officer, out of a total of 9520 ha in 17 watersheds only 4096 ha have been covered upto 31.3.2004 and as per the Deputy Director of Agriculture ( Soil and Water Management ) the physical achievement is to the tune of 7400 ha approx. The financial achievement upto 31.3.2004 has been approx. Rs. 14.00 lakhs. The DPAP schemes are executed in the blocks of Rajnagar and Murarai I ( 7 micro watersheds each ) . Likewise two micrwatersheds under the Hariali programme of the GOI are also being implemented in the said blocks. 10 Microwatersheds under IWDP are in the process of implementation in Rampurhat I block. NABARD has sanctioned Two microwatershed projects for implementation by the Md. Bazaar Panchayat Samiti in Md. Bazar block. The project has sucessfully completed Capacity Building Phase (CBP) which was implemented in Nimdaspur and Tangshuli with a Rs. 8 lakh approx. grant assistance from NABARD. The Full Implementation Phase (FIP) for the said projects are however yet to be submitted. Further, after a detailed study / survey undertaken jointly by NABARD and State Government Officials, four watersheds have been identified and approved which is to covered under WDF.

Details of degraded area ( Block wise )

As observed from the above table the balance area to be treated stands at 20706 ha which is quite substantial and soil and water conservation treatments may have to be taken up in the right earnest. The district of Birbhum is backward and infrastructural facilities are lacking . Further the terrain is undulating causing constraints in mobilty and the weather is rustic resulting in poor utilisation of labour power. The progress of execution of the watersheds is unsatisfactory. Timeliness is the key factor and that may be the prime reason for the lack of motivation of the part of the beneficiaries. Further, the programme requires to some extent technical expertise and as such the grass root level workers fail to implement it methodically resulting in unnecessary dealy in fund utilisation.Besides the beneficiaries do not get instant benefit from the programme and it is often observed that they divert to other activities viz. migration to other districts for search of work or engagement in stone quarries.There is an urgent need to address the problem .

The gamut of Land development activities are executed as per the norms formulated by the Government Of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Rural Development. The executing agencies directly implements the work out of budgetary allocation. As the same may not suffice the requirement of the implementing agencies, obtaining assistance from NABARD under RIDF may be sound proposition. The details are outlined as under :

POND EXCAVATION (Rs. Lakhs)

The Base PLP had envisaged specific activities by name. These activities as a whole are not popular in the district. However keeping in view the importance of some of the activities these have been retained in the updated PLP as these are considered feasible in the district along with the other popular activities and the rephased potential is detailed as under :-

The Block-wise and Activity-wise allocations of the various investments under the Land Development sector during the year 2005-06 are indicated in Annexure-I.

(i) The Annual Credit Plan targets and ground level credit flow for the last three years are as under :- 

                                                                                                                                    ( Rs. lakh )

The contents of the above table do not indicate any discernible trend/ preference on the part of either the banker to disburse bank loan or the borrower to avail of bank loan for undertaking various activities under this sector. In any event the situation is not encouraging particularly in view of the poor soil conditions obtaining in various parts of the district. Amongst the banks, Rampurhat CARDB is the forerunner in disbursing loans for the development of the sector in the district,.

(ii) Although, the disbursements registered an increase during the years under reference, it cannot be construed as a positive signal.

The Agriculture Department in coordination with the office of the Soil Conservation Officer and other departments has taken up an ambitious plan to popularise the issue of land reclamation through direct intervention and it is expected that ground level credit with subsidy component in watershed development and emphasis on eco-friendly growth will increase in future The resource gap will be of the order of Rs. 344.96 lakh.

3.1.6 Suggested Action Points

All participating banks may make special endeavour to identify beneficiaries and motivate them to undertake land development activities with assistance from banks.

Further various banks may try to dovetail its own programme with that of the microwatershed programme being implemented by various agencies in the district.

Banks may try to replicate the micro-watershed projects on the lines of the project being implemented with grant/ loan assistance from NABARD under the Watershed Development Fund.

The soil and Water Management Directorate has to strengthen its extension work to educate the owners/ occupants of the dregraded land on the benefits that would accrue as a result of undertaking appropriate land development activities and motivate these persons to avail of institutional credit for the purpose.

The Agriculture Department in coordination with Soil and Water Management Directorate and Palli Siksha Sansad, Visva-Bharati may improve its extension services and popularise this sector.

The Soil Conservation wing at the Department of Agriculture are directly involved for execution of the propgramme.The programme may be sucessfully implemented either by restructuring the Soil Conservation wing or by creation by legislation of State Soil Water Conservation Corporation which are presently functioning in states like Gujarat etc.

There should be better coordination between Agriculture Department and the banks for success of land development activities. Discussions in the district forum such as DCC/DLRC/SC etc. should invariably focus on sectoral issues for higher credit off-take to this sector.

In Birbhum, majority of the farmers employ agricultural labourers and draught animals for all aspects of agricultural operations beginning with procurement of inputs till the produce is sold in the market. This dependence on the traditional method of agriculture though eco-friendly has not actually helped us in achieving the status of a food grain surplus nation. It has been the adoption of good farm management practices and use of improved farm machines and other agricultural implements that helped the farmers complete the agricultural operations efficiently and in time. This resulted in increased coverage, better productivity and increased production. The emphasis on increased production of cereals, oilseeds and pulses could not have been achieved by any other method.

Tractors, power tillers and other agricultural implements such as paddy threshers,seed drills etc. are offered for sale in the district through dealer/ distributor network of reputed companies. These items can also be purchased from the neighbouring districts.The companies selling the farm equipment also provide after sales service. Besides, private entrepreneurs have set up service centres to repair the farm equipment. West Bengal Agro Industries Corporation and West Bengal State Seeds Corporation act as the nodal agencies offering tractors and power-tillers.Earlier, the said Corporations were offering subsidy @ Rs. 30000/= only per unit. But for the last two years, the doling out subsidy for purchase of tractors have been discontinued. As such the sales have also dipped. The West Bengal Agro Industries Corporation now functions in the competative market with private dealers. The corporation is now just another dealer in tractors, the only difference being that it is state owned. The Corporation does not deal in implements and as per their records power tillers are sold more than tractors. This is primarily due to the fragmantation of land and also because of the fact that power tillers are more suited for traditional paddy growing areas. However, in areas where the soil is alluvial in nature tractors are sold but again most of units are used mainly for custom hiring. As on 31 March 2002 there were about 4163 tractors with trailors in the district. The status of power tillers is not available.

There were not enough filling centres in the rural areas earlier but of late the Government has issued licences for opening of outlets in practically all parts of the district. Work on the outlets are in full swing and some have already been completed and commissioned. As such, availability of diesel to the farmers residing in the villages not connected by all weather roads no longer act as a constraining factor. As a matter of fact, diesel is availiable in nearly all connecting villages, although illegally. Therefore adequate number of authorised dealers may be appointed in the district so that the Farm machinery and other equipment are available for purchase to the intending purchasers. These dealers may also provide after sales service to the farmers. In order to provide repair, maintenance service and supply of Spare parts/ components to the farmers, unemployed youth may be encouraged to take such training and start business as an entrepreneur to provide expert services and advice to farmers on input supply, farm equipments on hire and other services as a commercial activity. This is commonly known as Agri Business centres which has been drawn up as a scheme by NABARD, mainly for unemployed Agriculture graduates This would lead to gainful employment to such graduates in new and emerging areas in agriculture. It may be our endeavour to set up such units at least in small towns to enable farmers to use these machinery and equipment without any form of hindrance.

The upward revision in potential has been effected in keeping with increasing irrigation facilities expected to be commissioned during the current year on account of completion of various Govt. funded schemes and bank aided private investment under OFWM Schemes. Further, the Banks have now been allowed to finance second hand tractors in all the states.

As the farms are smaller in size the farmers find it more beneficial to go for power tillers with additional facilities for irrigation and so the potential for the same has expanded

The Block-wise and Activity-wise allocations of the various investments under Farm Mechanisation sector during the year 2005-06 are indicated in Annexure-I.

(i) The Annual Credit Plan targets and flow of institutional credit for financing of farm machinery and other agricultural equipment for the last three years are as under :-

It may be observed that Annual Credit Plan envisage a substantial growth of outlay every year and the disbursements also indicate a sudden spurt of financing by the banks during the year 2002-03. However, the level could not be sustained and the credit offtake under this sector crashed to 180.04 lakhs in the year 2003-04 from that of 484.94 lakhs in the year 2002-03. This is disheartening and it does not augur well for the district. However, the target has not been achieved in any year under reference. This only indicates that there is scope for the activity to flourish and credit may be pumped in for its enhancement.

(ii) The disbursements during the year 2005-06 is likely to be around Rs. 1300.00 lakh.

3.3.5 Resource Gap

The resource gap thus works out to Rs. 1853.15 lakh only.

The banks may rope in the large number of small and marginal farmers by educating and motivating them for availing of loans in groups in view of the highly fragmented land holding in the district.

Banks may explore the possibilities of financing unemployed graduates from the discipline of agriculture and allied subjects for starting Agri-clinics in the rural areas. This could be of great help to the farmers of the district as they would be able to receive first hand information regarding the suitability of the machine ( tractor or power tiller)they would like to purchase, in relation to their land holding.

i)The Agriculture Dept., West Bengal Agro Industries Corporation and West Bengal State Seeds Corporation may intensify its extension efforts for propagating its developmental schemes so that the farmers can come forward for availing of the facilities offered.

ii) Practice of custom hiring of tractors and Power Tillers at a reasonable rent may be encouraged.

3.5 Forestry & Wasteland Development

Birbhum district has a forest cover of about 159.68 sq. Km. which is about 3.5% of the total geographical area as against the prescribed national benchmark of 10%. As discussed earlier the red laterite soil of the district is highly acidic in nature and hence unfit for agricultural purposes. Development of wasteland requires a package of treatment which includes soil erosion control measures, erection of ground water recharging structures and suitable crop production systems.

The Forest Department has since been implementing Area Oriented Fuel and Fodder Plantation Scheme from 1995-96 onwards with expenses shared by the GOI and the GOWB. During the year 2001-02, it had taken up plans to cover 35 Ha. in Bolpur block and 65 Ha. in Md. Bazar block. A large area under forest cover was taken over by the Bakreswar Thermal Power Plant Authorities. Forest Department is now implementing the Compensatory Afforestation Programme to create forest cover on the substitute land and the same is funded by the Thermal Plant Authorities. It is also understood that the West Bengal Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation had disbursed loan to Forest Development Corporation during 1999 for increasing forest cover, creating plantations, and for strengthening forest protection system in the south-western region of West Bengal. Birbhum has a share of 150 Ha. under the said scheme. Prior to 1984, Titagarh Paper Mills used to promote afforestation projects and raise plantation involving various pulpwood species on private wastelands. The owners had to execute a long term lease against payment of yearly rent besides a share of 25% of the net sale proceeds of the logs and timber etc. produced on these lands. With the availability of improved clonal species with short gestation period of 5 - 6 years, there is improved possibility of financing the development of wasteland.

The status of non-cultivable land in the district as per the data of the Agriculture Department is as under

                                                                                                                                                (unit =ha )

The Block-wise and Activity-wise allocations of the various investments under this sector during the year 2005-06 are indicated in Annexure-I.

3.5.4 Review of Ground Level Credit

(i) The Annual Credit Plan targets and ground level credit flow for the last three years are as under :- 

                                                                                                                            (P=Nos.) (Rs.lakh)

(i) It is observed that the Annual Credit Plans prepared by bank branches over the years do not have any separate or individual target for any activity under this sector. This indicates that there has not been any perceptible demand for institutional credit for development of this sector and accordingly no credit has since been disbursed.

(ii) Thus it may not possible to make any comments and/or observation in regard development of forestry and wasteland with the help of bank credit.

The Annual Credit plan prepared by the banks have not allocated any fund for this sector during the last two years. However for the year 2004-05 a target of Rs 47.25 lakhs have been indicated. It is expected that at least this year some disbursements would be made. Therefore the ground level credit flow may be to the tune of Rs 15.00 lakhs during the year 2005-06. The resource gap worked out would thus stand at Rs.46.47 lakhs.

Banks may welcome proposals for disbursement of loan for development of this sector sponsored by various nodal departments viz., Agriculture Department, Soil and Water Management, Forest Deptt., and other corporate entities like West Bengal Pulpwood Development Corporation.

The aforesaid nodal departments may undertake intensive extension/ publicity work to spread awareness and motivate private individuals and organisations to participate in the afforestation programme as well as cultivation of medicinal herbs on commercial lines with the help of bank credit.

Farmers may be encouraged to take up farm forestry schemes and avail of institutional credit for this purpose.

Animal Husbandry covers a wide area mostly comprising of dairy farming activities, calf rearing, poultry and rearing of small animals viz., goat, sheep, pig and rabbit etc. The importance of this sub-sector should not be overlooked as these activities are undertaken as a subsidiary occupation. In fact the very nature of these activities allows one to undertake AH activities as such and yet it provides an important source of employment and income. Besides this, the sub-sector acts as an important source of protein food and enriches the district through a variety of food like meat, milk and milk products and other by-products.

The office of the Deputy Director of Animal Resources Department organises and supervises various govt. schemes on dairy development, treatment and vaccination of both big and small animals and poultry birds. Besides it also conducts through its nodal wings seminars, group discussions and sandhya baithaks for creating awareness among the rural people and for motivating them to take up various activities under this sector for improving their economic condition. It also provides necessary support services for carrying out AI programme with a view to improving the gene pool of the local bovine population. The number of AI performed is increasing every year.. The AI performed during 2002-03 and 2003-04 were 32482 and 34477 respectively. The dairy unit located at Sian has now been taken over by Mayurakshi Milk Union and they have started marketing milk in pouches under the brand name Benmilk. The installed capacity of the dairy at present is 4000 litres per shift and at present is running on full capacity. A chilling plant is coming up at Kotasur which would cater to the Milk Producers Cooperatives in Mayureshwar and adjoining Rampurhat blocks. There is a need to install a chilling plant at Nalhati block so as to cover blocks in the north of Birbhum. There has not been any withdrawal or curtailment in the infrastructural facilities and support services provided by the Animal Resources Directorate to the people in the district. The Directorate caters its services for the benefit of the people through various veterinary units as under :-

In order to sustain development of various activities under the Animal Husbandry sector, the Animal Resources Directorate will have to provide support services for prevention and treatment of diseases, nutrition, improvement of local breed through induction of new gene pool by way of Artificial Insemination, awareness building and motivational programme for the farmers and marketing support for animal products particularly milk and milk products. Veterinary hospitals should be operating at the block level and these are required to be supplemented with mobile clinics manned by qualified technical and non-technical staff. The Department may endeavour to form Livestock Development & Marketing Society in each block from amongst the active livestock breeders so as to provide assured marketing channel to village breeders. At present Mayurakshi Milk Union operates two milk routes covering a total distance of 295 kms. to collect milk from 26 pouring Milk Producers Cooperative Societies enroute. The present collection is around 4000 lpd which is processed at the Dairy plant located at Sian. The local demand is around 500 litres per day and the same is marketed in half-litre polythene packs and the balance is despatched to Mother Dairy, Dankuni in insulated tankers. The Mayurakshi Milk Union has to organise Milk Producers Cooperative Societies on a large scale and induct a large number of good quality milch animals into the district by arrangement with established dairy farms or reputed cattle dealers. In order to sustain the dairy movement in the district, artificial insemination with frozen semen has to be made a success. Under the National Project on cattle and Buffaloe breeding (NPCBB), the state government has set up Paschim Banga Go-Sampad Bikas Sanstha (PBGSBS) as State Implementing Agency (SIA). For achieving the main objective of the project covering all breedable bovines under AI is sought to be achieved through lay inseminators popularly known as "Prani Bandhu" or barefoot veterinary doctors. These entrepreneurs which are attached to 119 out of 167 Gram Panchayats in the district.The balance Gram Panchayats should also have the services of these barefoot doctors. Besides their core function of giving doorstep AI service to farmers, these doctors are required to attend to the emergency and first aid needs of the animals and birds in their area for which they have been appropriately trained by the PBGSBS. Castration is also one of the important activities of Prani Bandhu.

As per the livestock Census of 2003, the block wise population of animals are as under:

The organised Green Fodder cultivation is not practised to the desired extent. As per data avialable 118619 cottahs of land is being used for the same. The district has 567 Ha of Pasture land. There is a gap in requisite infrastructure for fodder preservation under Dairy Development. The District is self sufficient in the production of concentrate feed.

The requirement of Veterinary Institutes /dispensaries,First Aid centres etc. as against the existing availability has been calculated as under.

It is observed from the data as above that there exists Long Term Potential for setting up of 75 Veterinary Institutes and about 250 Private AI Centers, spread out in 5 years. All these units can come through setting up of private veterinary clinics. As regards AI Centres all such units can come through the Prani Bandhu of PBGSBS. At present the district has 119 active Prani Bandhus.

In order to achieve a level of success and sustainability in carrying out the plans as stated above, the following requirements of the department come to the foreground.The expenditure incurred for such requirements can be obtained from the RIDF of NABARD.

The Block-wise and Activity-wise allocations of the various investments under the Animal Husbandry Sector during the year 2005-06 are indicated in Annexure-I.

1. The Annual Credit Plan targets and ground level credit flow for the last three years are as under :-