Timely availability of healthy rice seedlings is crucial for successful kharif rice cultivation in Nadia district. However, farmers often face challenges such as delayed nursery establishment, labour shortages, and rising production costs. To address these issues, ICAR-NDRI-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Nadia has promoted Community Seedling Production as a sustainable and climate-resilient approach to rice cultivation.
Under this initiative, quality rice seeds were distributed through the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) programme with support from ICAR-CRIJAF, Barrackpore. The programme was implemented across six blocks of Nadia district-Chakdah, Santipur, Krishnanagar-I, Krishnanagar-II, Nakashipara, and Kaliganj, covering 21 villages and benefiting 474 farmers.
Farmers were encouraged to establish community nurseries using scientific nursery management practices to produce healthy, vigorous seedlings. Scientists from ICAR-NDRI-KVK, Nadia provided hands-on training and technical guidance on improved rice varieties, seed treatment, nursery establishment, balanced nutrient management, and integrated pest and disease management.
The initiative has ensured the timely availability of healthy and uniform seedlings, reduced nursery and cultivation costs, enhanced resource use efficiency, and promoted collective participation among farmers. By facilitating timely transplanting with quality seedlings, this community-based approach is emerging as an effective climate-resilient strategy that is expected to improve crop establishment and enhance kharif rice productivity across the participating areas of Nadia district.
(Source: ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute-KVK, Nadia, Kalyani, West Bengal)
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