Paschim Medinipur has fertile lands as well as fallow lands. The fertile lands mostly have alluvial soil. The fallow lands are of laterite soil. Paddy, potatoes, and other alluvial soil crops are grown in some parts without much impediment. Naturally, the people living on these lands have the required skill set for agricultural practices. Contrarily, the presence of vast stretches of fallow land remains the cause of poverty for many people.
It is easy to discard any land as fallow. The people who are living on these lands do not find any
opportunity for cultivation. Because these fields are unable to produce the so-called crops
which are known to them. As IMAP has been working on this critical issue for the last 15 years,
it could think of several alternatives to fetch produces from these unproductive lands.
In this trail of new crops, IMAP introduced the concept of a medicinal plant cultivation
programme in Garhbeta II Block of Paschim Medinipur District to alleviate this poverty. 35
different species of medicinal plants were introduced on a piece of fallow land as part of a pilot
project involving 500 women from the marginal community.
Because this type of production is new to this district and the state of West Bengal, a thorough
training program was established for these 500 women from marginalized communities. The
medium of training was audio-visual, supported by printed booklets. These women are now
working in the field, earning wages and learning new crop production technology after
completing classroom training. The seeds and saplings were brought from ICAR's Gujarat Unit
and from Rajasthan.
Raising and using medicinal plants has been continuously promoted as a national policy. IMAP
took advantage of the chance to start growing medicinal plants on fallow land in order to
maintain the regular crop cycle. Furthermore, it will reduce the carbon footprint by covering
the bare ground. Additionally, this region's biodiversity will be promoted.
For instance, IMAP introduced Lac Cultivation on a novel plant, Semialata Flemingia, in the
fallow lands of Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram almost 15 years ago. Simultaneously Organic
farming was also introduced in these fallow lands. In secondary farming practices it introduced
Mushroom Cultivation, goat-rearing and Vermi-compost production.
Because this type of production is new to this district and the state of West Bengal, a thorough
training program was established for these 500 women from marginalized communities. The
medium of training was audio-visual, supported by printed booklets. These women are now
working in the field, earning wages and learning new crop production technology after
completing classroom training. The seeds and saplings were brought from ICAR's Gujarat Unit
and from Rajasthan.
Raising and using medicinal plants has been continuously promoted as a national policy. IMAP
took advantage of the chance to start growing medicinal plants on fallow land in order to
maintain the regular crop cycle. Furthermore, it will reduce the carbon footprint by covering
the bare ground. Additionally, this region's biodiversity will be promoted.
For instance, IMAP introduced Lac Cultivation on a novel plant, Semialata Flemingia, in the
fallow lands of Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram almost 15 years ago. Simultaneously Organic
farming was also introduced in these fallow lands. In secondary farming practices it introduced
Mushroom Cultivation, goat-rearing and Vermi-compost production.
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