PARTICIPANTS OF THE PROGRAMME

Group – SEKHAMPUR RRSS

Sl. No. Name Roll No.

1 JOY MONDAL Ag-01
2 DIBYAJYOTI BHATTACHARYA Ag-02
3 ANKITA TALUKDAR Ag-03
4 SAYAN ROUTH Ag-04
5 SUDARSHAN SARKAR Ag-07
6 DWIPAYAN DAS Ag-08
7 DISHA MAITY Ag-09
8 SWATI PAINE Ag-10
9 HIYA DUTTA Ag-11
10 SHUBHODIP DEY Ag-13
11 ARGHODIP MONDAL Ag-14
12 SHARANDEEP GHOSH Ag-15
13 PRANIDHI DAS Ag-17
14 ARPAN DHARA Ag-18
15 AKOLINA PAUL Ag-19
16 ANINDYA SARKAR Ag-20
17 PURBA CHAKRABORTY Ag-22
18 ABHIPREETI SHEET Ag-23
19 ANKITA KAR Ag-25
20 SOUMYASHREE DAS Ag-26
21 UTSHA DAS Ag-30
22 SANJANA BANIK Ag-31
23 SNIGDHA BASU Ag-32
24 TIYASA MAITRA Ag-33
25 SUNANDA SAHA Ag-34
26 USHASI RAY Ag-35
27 DRISHTI DEBNATH Ag-36
28 SHRIPARNA NANDI Ag-39
29 AMRITA BHATTACHARJEE Ag-51
30 ARPITA SINHA Ag-94
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First & foremost, we are very much thankful to the farmers and the villagers of Sekhampur village
for their support and help by providing all the necessary information. We are very grateful to Mr.
Shivaji Chattopadhyay, Mr. Tanmay Das, Mr. Manik Ch. Bayen, Mr. Dayamay Bayen for
their enormous support and guidance to explore the village and meet up with other villagers and
mostly to complete the RAWE Programme.

It is with great respect we place our deep sense of gratitude to our respected teachers for their
valuable guidance, constructive suggestions, friendly approach, and encouragement during the
conductance of this course.

Special thanks to:

Dr. (Prof.) Partha Protim Dhar

Dr. (Prof.) Kamal Kumar Mandal

Dr. Debashis Pal

Dr. Raju Das

Prof. Lalu Das (Dean, Faculty of Agriculture)

Prof. S. K. Acharya (RAWE Advisor)

Prof. Dhananjoy Dutta (RAWE CO-ORDINATOR)

Prof. Rishu Sharma (RAWE CO-ORDINATOR)

Special thanks to the respected Professors of all departments.

 DAY 1, DATE – 30/01/2024
➢ KEY ACTIVITIES:

1) On the first day, an exposure visit was held by ATMA with the farmers’ community of Md.
Bazar Block in our RRSS, Sekhampur. We guided them how to increase productivity and
to stabilize the income by cultivating profitable crops which are suitable to this agro-
climatic region.

2) Then we along with the farmers visited the whole farm under the supervision of Prof.
Kamal

3) The RRSS is situated in the Red & Laterite Zone where some problems related to
agriculture are seen like acidic soil, deficiency of NPK, lesser clay particles and the water
holding capacity of the soil is also low.

4) After that the teachers demonstrated to us the propagation methods and cultural practices
of some fruits and vegetables such as dragon fruit, ber, onion, sweet lemon, brinjal,
pomegranate, amla, cauliflower.

5) Dragon Fruit: Hylocereus undatus.

• Family- Cactaceae.
• Origin-Mexico.
➢ It is a CAM plant and non-climacteric fruit plant. Duration – 10-15 years. Long
Day Plant.
➢ Fruit colours – pink, white or yellow.
➢ Propagation – 15-20 cm cuttings are taken from nodal region of 1 year old plant and
polarity is to be maintained while planting.
➢ For planting dragon fruit, rectangular concrete pillars of 7 ft. height are established at
a spacing of 3m x 3m and at the 4 corners of each pillar 4 cuttings are planted.
➢ Sowing time – Feb-March (Irrigated), June-July(non-irrigated).
➢ Flowering time – May-June. 50-60 flowers/plant. Fruit thinning is to be done as the
fruit size will be better if there is a smaller number of fruits in each plant. Fruits ripe 1
month after flowering and fruiting continues from June – September.
 ➢ Dragon fruit cultivation is profitable, but the initial cost is high. So, it is not much
preferred by the farmers.
➢ Advantages – Less infestation of pests and diseases, anti-cancer property, longer shelf
life of 10-15 days.
6) Ber: Zizyphus sp.
• Family-Rhamnaceae
➢ Var- Gola, Umran, Narkel
➢ Propagation- T/ ring budding
➢ Top working- It includes removal of old twigs and restoration of new shoots,
propagation of desired variety on these newly emerged shoots. In case of Ber, it is done
from march to June. Here, selected trees grown from seedlings with inferior fruits are
headed back at a height of 1.5 -2 m from the ground. This results in profuse sprouting
of shoots near the cut ends and 2-3 branches are selected for T budding.
▪ In Ber, top working is done to change the taste of fruit from sour to
sweet.
➢ Importance of rootstocks- provide root system to the grafted plants, pest and disease
resistance, suppress the effect of scion by its excessive growth.
➢ Yield- 50- 100 kg per tree.
7) Onion- Transplanting is done in dry soil as in wet condition, weed infestation is high.
• Variety- Sukh Sagar (rabi), Agri found(kharif)
8) Pomegranate- Bhagwa variety is grown.
 USE OF POLYMULCH IN RRSS, SEKHAMPUR

❖ INTRODUCTION:

Mulching is a gardening technique that involves covering the soil with organic or synthetic
material. The purpose is to improve the conditions for plant growth and crop production. Mulching
is usually done when cultivating commercially
important crops, fruit trees, vegetables, flowers, or
nursery saplings. In polymulching only synthetic
material is used to cover the crop bed.

❖ FUNCTIONS OF POLYMULCHING:
✓ Soil temperature: Plastic mulch can raise the
temperature of the plow layer.
✓ Water conservation: Plastic mulch is
completely impermeable to water, which
prevents direct evaporation of moisture from the
soil. This limits water losses and soil erosion.
✓ Light: The light reflected from the mulch may
affect plant growth.
✓ Soil fertility: Plastic mulches increase soil Figure: Polymulches in RRSS, Sekhampur

fertility through decomposition of mulches.

✓ Weed control: Plastic mulch can control weeds.
✓ Protection: Plastic mulch can protect plants from pests.

❖ CHARACTERISTICS OF POLYMULCH USED IN SEKHAMPUR

RRSS:
➢ Thickness: 25 microns
➢ Mulch type: Silver – Black Polymulch, here the upper side is silver and under side is black.
➢ Price: ₹ 2300 / roll of polymulch used
➢ Planting pattern: Crops are planted in a zigzag pattern.

Figure 1: Demonstration of application of Polymulch in field, RRSS, Sekhampur

❖ POLYMULCH WORKING
PRINCIPLE:
✓ Black or clear mulch can warm the soil, while
white or aluminum mulch can keep it cooler.
This can allow for earlier planting and faster
growth.
✓ Polymulch can help prevent soil water loss and
reduce the need for irrigation. However, plastic
mulch restricts rainwater from reaching the
Figure 2 Polymulch rolls used in field,
roots, so drip irrigation should generally be used RRSS, Sekhampur
with plastic mulch.
✓ Black sheet mulch can prevent most weeds by excluding light.
 ✓ Plastic mulch can keep fruits and
vegetables clean and reduce soil rot.
✓ Plastic mulch can protect ground-level
fruit from soil pathogens.

Figure 3 Application of polymulch in RRSS, Sekhampur

DAY 2, DATE – 31/01/2024

➢ KEY ACTIVITIES:

Visit to the fields (research plots) within RRSS, Sekhampur.

Field Crop under Plot size Description of activity

no. study

1 Mustard 21 plots; a) A trial is being conducted to test the efficacy of

(Variety: each size: the different fungicide (salicylic acid, salicylic
Varuna T59) 3m x 1m acid+ chitosan, salicylic acid +bentozic acid,
salicylic acid + methyl salicylic acid, salicylic acid
+ Score Syngenta, score+ chitosan, water)
compositions in controlling of different mustard
diseases.

b) Experiment design used: RBD (Replication: 3

Treatment:7)

c) Time of sowing: 02/12/23

d) Spacing: 30cm x 10cm

2 Potato (Variety: 24 plots; a) A trial is being conducted to evaluate efficacy of

Chandramukhi) each size: FKK-5 against late blight of potato, and its
3mx 4m phytotoxicity on potato.
 b) Experiment design: RBD (Replication:3
Treatment:8)

c) Time of sowing: 26/12/23

d) Spacing: 50cm x 15cm

e) Fkk-5 has been applied immediately after first

symptom of disease observed and 2-3 sprays has
been applied at an interval of 10 days.

f) Observation for Phyto-toxicity has been taken on

0,1,3,5,7,10 days after first application.

3. Tomato 24 plots; a) Trial is being conducted to evaluate the efficacy of

(Variety: each size: the chemicals sponsored by M/S Deccan Fine
Abhilash) 4m x 5m Chemicals (India) Ltd. against early and late blight
of tomato.
b) Experiment design: RBD (Replication:3
Treatment: 8)
c) Date of nursery: 01/11/23
d) Date of transplanting: 23/12/23
e) Spacing: 50cm x 80cm
➢ FIELD VISIT IMAGES:
 DAY 3, DATE – 01/02/2024
❖ KEY ACTIVITIES:

Visit to ASTIVA GROUP OF

INDUSTRIES.

1) Enterprise name & trademark:

SARAH FARM (Goatary enterprise)
under ASTIVA GROUP OF
INDUSTRIES trademark.
2) Address:
➢ Village: Sekhampur
➢ Post Office: Gadadharpur Birbhum, West
Bengal
3) Salient features: Establishment: 2021

➢ Name of owner: Sharadkanya Das

➢ Name of the manager: Sk Asmatullah

➢ Market: Suri, Bolpur, Panrui & nearby localities

➢ Agriculture associated activity: Cultivation of napier & smart napier grass for
livestock feed.

4) Enterprise description:
➢ Area: 10.5 bigha

➢ Wood construction: 60 ft. X 40 ft.

➢ Brick construction: 60 ft. X 10ft.

➢ Capacity: 150 goats

➢ Number of goats present in this farm at this

moment: 70.

➢ Type of breed: Blackbengal, Rewazi khansi

(rajasthani)

➢ Water resource: Submersible

➢ Veterinary: Aid from local doctor (check up in

regular basis

5) Key activity: It involves raising and breeding goats. They

farm goats principally for their meat.
 DAY 4, DATE – 02/02/2024
❖ KEY ACTIVITIES:

Learn about Orchard Development Programme.

Orchard Development Programme

refers to a structured plan or
initiative aimed at promoting the
establishment, growth, and
management of orchards.
Orchards are cultivated areas
where fruit-bearing trees are
planted and grown for commercial
or personal use.
 ❖ Field Visit and Observation:

Guava Orchard, RRSS Sekhampur, Birbhum

❖ Key components of the Guava

Orchard:

1.Variety: Khaja (Bengal Safeda)

2.Intercrops:

• Planting time for Rabi season intercrops

(French bean, Pea, Lathyrus, Lentil, Bengal
gram): 2nd fortnight of November.
• Planting time for kharif season intercrop
(Cowpea): 2nd fortnight of June.
❖ Key observation:
➢ Plot size for cultivation of intercrop: 9m x 4m (36 m²)
➢ Area for intercrops: 28m²
➢ Age of the plants: 4-5 years
➢ Plant spacing: 5m × 5m.
➢ Design of the experiment: Randomized Block Design (RBD)
➢ Nutrient management: The intercrops (both rabi and kharif season intercrops) along with
the main crop (Guava) will be fertilized with recommended doses of fertilizers and other
intercultural operations will be adopted, as and when necessary. No fertilization and
intercultural practices will be done to the guava plants under treatment with various
leguminous intercrops.
❖ Post flowering canopy management:
✓ Fruit thinning:
• To prevent excessive fruiting which leads to production of bigger size fruits with better
quality.
• Facilitates the easy harvesting and management of remaining fruits.
• Increase the plant's ability to form flower buds for the next year.
• Reduces the crop load and reduces the chance of limb breakage and improves the size and
colour of the remaining fruits.
✓ Fruit bagging:
• Fruit bagging can improve fruit coloration.
• Reduce the damage from pests, disease, sunburn, mechanical injuries, and agrochemical
residues on the fruit.
• Modifies the microenvironment of the fruit during its development, with multiple effects
on its internal quality.

❖ Key activities:
✓ Data Collection: Following datas from the intercrops are collected.
• No. of branches/plant
• No. of pods
• No. of seed
• Pod wt.
• Pod length
✓ Harvesting of the intercrops: Intercrop i.e.
French beans are harvested at the mature stage by
hand from the selected plot and subsequent
information are collected.

OKRA SOWING

❖ Variety: - JK7315
❖ Crop Name: - Okra
❖ Method Of Sowing: - Line
Sowing
❖ Spacing: - 60 cm*45 cm
❖ Seed Treatment: - They doesn`t
use any seed treatment.
 ❖ Seed bed preparation: - After one time plowing, they
use polythene sheet for mulching.
❖ Sowing depth: - 2-3cm
❖ Sowing time: - 02/02/2024
❖ No. Of plants in the area: - 300
❖ Area of the Field: - 0.5ha
❖ Why polythene is used: -

1) It is used for mulching

2) It is low in cost

3) As the upper part of the polythene is covered

with silver so it reflects the extra sunlight, but the
inner side is black in color, so it conserves the
heat and moisture

4) this mulching reduces the cost of labor

5) It reduces the weed Growth

❖ Price of the polythene: - Rs. 2400

❖ Source of the seed: - Suri

DAY 5, DATE – 05/02/2024

❖ KEY ACTIVITIES:

Local Enterprise Visit (Piggery Visit)

1) Address:
❖ Village: Sekhampur
 ❖ Post Office: Gadadharpur, Birbhum, West
Bengal
2) Salient features:
❖ Establishment year: 2021
❖ Owner: Shyamoli Das
❖ Market: Suri, Parui, and nearby localities.
✓ Datura plants are grown for aiding diseases.

Piggery:

A piggery is a farm where pigs are kept and reared.

3) Enterprise Description:
❖ Area: 1 bigha
❖ Brick construction: 20 ft X 10 ft.

❖ Pond No. - 1
❖ Number of pigs: 7 adult pig (4 female, 3
male), 14 piglet
❖ Breed: Ghungroo, cross
❖ Water resource: pond
❖ Veterinary: Aid from local doctor
4) Rearing of pigs:

• Food is given 3 times.

• ater is given 3 times.

• Mainly Rice husk, Oil cake, Water spinach, Handia (rice beer) is used as livestock feed.

• Datura leaf paste is used for curing diseases.

• Pigs take baths in a small pond.

5) Breeding habit:
 • Mating occurs when the pigs are 5-6 months old.

• Gestation period: 6 months/ 10 months.

• Number of piglets: 3-4/ female pig.

6) Cost:

3-3.5k per month (including food, medicine etc.)

✓ MARKRTING OF PIGS:

The pigs are sold when theit weight is approximately 30-32 kg.

￭ Price: 6.5k – 7k per pig.

✓ AGRICULTURE ASSOCIATED ACTIVITY:
￭ Excreta is used as manure in rice, onion or potato field.

DAY 6, DATE – 06/02/2024

➢ KEY ACTIVITIES:

Visit to MAGH MELA

1) Name of fair: - Magh Mela

2) Location: - Sriniketan, Birbhum
3) Objective:

❖ Magh Mela provides a platform for

artisans to showcase their skills and
products to a wider audience, thereby
helping them gain recognition and
support for their craftsmanship.
❖ This fair helps to preserve cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship techniques that
might otherwise be lost over time.
 ❖ It provides a marketplace for artisans to sell
their products directly to consumers,
handicraft fairs can stimulate local economies
and provide income opportunities for artisans
and their communities.
❖ Magh Mela may include demonstrations,
workshops, and informational sessions to
educate the public about the skills and
techniques involved in various crafts, as well as the cultural significance of different
handmade products.
The objective of a Magh Mela is to celebrate and
promote the rich diversity of handmade crafts,
while also supporting artisans, preserving
traditional techniques, and fostering cultural
exchange and economic development.

4) Information about stalls:

➢ Types of stalls: - Handicrafts shops;
Demonstration stalls; Agricultural produces
➢ Handicrafts shops: - These types of shops
demonstrate and sell hand crafted objects (like
– wooden dolls, ceramic pots, hand woven
cloths, pictures, pictures made of copper
wires, etc.)
➢ Demonstration stalls: - The students of Visva-
Bharati University installed a demonstration
shop in this fair. This shop demonstrated about
integrated farming in miniature form, organic
products (Jibamrit, Neemastra, Bijamrut),
various seeds (tulaipanji rice, gobindovog etc.).
➢ Agricultural Produce: - There was a portion
where agricultural products are demonstrated.
➢ Bijamrut: A treatment used for seeds, seedlings,
or any planting material that protects the young
roots from fungal and soil-borne diseases.
Prepared from local cow dung, cow urine,
tobacco, green chilies, and neem leaf pulp, used
for insect and pest control.
➢ Neemastra: An organic preparation used in zero
budget farming. It is useful against sucking pests
and mealy bugs. 100 litres of water are taken in a
drum and 5 liters of local cow urine and 5 kg local cow dung is added to it & 5 kg of neem
leaves is crushed and added to the water.
➢ Jeevamrut: A liquid organic manure which is an excellent source of natural carbon and
biomass that contains macro and micronutrients required by crops. It is prepared by
fermenting the mixture of cow/buffalo dung and urine. Contribution of jaggery and pulse
flour also enhances the microbial population.
➢ Chicken Breeds:
1) Kaveri, suitable breed for rural backyard
poultry farming featuring multicolor, single
comb, excellent flock uniformity, shank,
and egg color is brown.
2) Kadak Nath, also called Kali Masi,
originated from Madhya Pradesh.
 3) Asil or Aseel, originated from Punjab and due to
aggressiveness, high stamina, stubbornness used
for cockfighting.
4) Guinea fowl, relative of chicken and partridge. Its
meat is moist, firmer, and leaner than chicken meat.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEW ALLUVIAL ZONE’S

AGRICULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS & RED AND LATERITE
ZONE’S AGRICULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS (I.E. BCKV’S
MAIN CAMPUS, MOHANPUR, NADIA & RRSS SEKAMPUR, RED
AND LATERITE ZONE, SURI, BIRBHUM): -

1. Soil Type:

- Alluvial Agriculture: Alluvial soils are formed by the deposition of silt, sand, and clay carried
by rivers and streams. These soils are typically rich in nutrients and well-drained, making them
highly suitable for agriculture.

- Red Laterite Agriculture: Red laterite soils, also known as lateritic soils, are formed in
tropical and subtropical regions with high rainfall and high temperatures. They are typically acidic,
low in fertility, and have a high content of iron and aluminium oxides.

2. Agricultural Practices:
 - Alluvial Agriculture: Due to their high fertility, alluvial soils are suitable for a wide range of
crops, including rice, wheat, maize, sugarcane, and vegetables. Intensive farming practices,
including irrigation and the use of fertilizers, are common.

- Red Laterite Agriculture: Red laterite soils present challenges for agriculture due to their low
fertility and acidic nature. Farmers often need to adopt soil improvement techniques such as adding
organic matter, using lime to reduce acidity, and practicing crop rotation. Crops grown in these
soils may include cassava, oil palm, rubber, and certain types of tropical fruits.

3. Challenges and Opportunities:

- Alluvial Agriculture: While alluvial soils are highly fertile and productive, they are also
susceptible to erosion and depletion of nutrients if not managed properly. However, with proper
irrigation and nutrient management, they can sustain intensive agriculture.

- Red Laterite Agriculture: Red laterite soils pose challenges due to their inherent low fertility
and acidity. However, with appropriate soil management techniques and crop selection, farmers
can still achieve reasonable yields. Sustainable land management practices are crucial to prevent
soil degradation and erosion in laterite soil areas.

4. Crops planted:

-Alluvial Agriculture: Rice, wheat, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, jute, maize, oilseeds,
vegetables, and fruits.

- Red Laterite Agriculture: Rice, tropical fruits, mustard.

In summary, the primary difference between new alluvial agriculture and red laterite agriculture
lies in the type of soil used and the associated agricultural practices required to optimize
productivity. Alluvial agriculture benefits from naturally fertile soils conducive to a wide range of
crops, while red laterite agriculture requires careful soil management and crop selection to
overcome the challenges posed by low fertility and acidity.