Yet another BJP worker found hanging from a tree near his house before attending a Kangaroo court

“But he was not willing to do so. Yesterday a salishi sabha or Kangaroo court was scheduled to be held in the house of the local TMC leader. They called him out from the house for attending the meeting. Before the meeting, one Badal Das and others killed him. Later in the evening, he was found hanging. We want the truth to come out,” a member of his family said.          

       

   Biswabrata Goswami

   Hummingbird News

MIDNAPORE, 30 JULY: Yet in another gruesome incident, a BJP worker was found hanging from a mango tree near his house at Konchuri village of Haldia-II gram panchayat area under Ramnagar police station limits in East Midnapore on Wednesday.

Police official said the body of Purnachandra Das (44) was found hanging from a mango tree near his house yesterday evening and his body has been sent to the Contai state general hospital for autopsy.

The family members of Das claimed that local Trinamul Congress leaders had been putting pressure on him for the past few days to join their party.

“But he was not willing to do so. Yesterday a salishi sabha or Kangaroo court was scheduled to be held in the house of the local TMC leader. They called him out from the house for attending the meeting. Before the meeting, one Badal Das and others killed him. Later in the evening, he was found hanging. We want the truth to come out,” a member of his family said.

Anup Chakraborty, BJP’s Contai district president alleged Das was killed by the TMC backed goons as he refused to join TMC.

“He was an active BJP worker and he was the party’s booth president of 41 number Arjuni booth. For the last few months, the TMC workers had threatened him on dire consequences and asked him to join the TMC,” said Mr Chakraborty.

Trinamul Congress MLA from Ramnagar, Akhil Giri, however, rubbished the allegation as “completely baseless and politically motivated”, and said a police investigation would bring out the truth.

Earlier this month, a senior BJP leader and MLA, Debendra Nath Ray, was found dead under mysterious circumstances near his house in North Dinajpur district in north Bengal.

Ray was found hanging from a ceiling, outside a closed shop, near his home in the Hemtabad area of the district, police said.

His family and the party alleged that it was a “cold-blooded murder by TMC”.

Nadia administration gears up to dispose of the unclaimed dead bodies from police morgue hours after the news published

Nadia administration gears up to dispose of the unclaimed dead bodies from police morgue hours after the news published 

The SDO, Sadar Manish Verma has requested the chairman of Nabadwip municipality to cremate four dead bodies (unclaimed) per day.  

   

                          

 Biswabrata Goswami

 Hummingbird News

KRISHNAGAR, 28 JULY: Finally, the Nadia district administration geared up to dispose of the unclaimed dead bodies rotting in the police morgue since the last three months at Saktinagar district hospital in Krishnagar.

The sub-divisional officer (SDO), Sadar has written a letter addressing to the chairman of Nabadwip municipality urging him to allow cremation of unclaimed bodies kept inside the police morgue at Saktinagar district hospital.

The move came hours after the news published by Hummingbird News under the headline – 18 unclaimed dead bodies rotting inside the police morgue in Saktinagar district hospital since last three months during Covid situation on 27 July.

Today, four bodies were disposed from the police morgue and these were cremated at electric crematoria in Nabadwip burning ghat.

The SDO, Sadar Manish Verma has requested the chairman of Nabadwip municipality to cremate four dead bodies (unclaimed) per day.  

Amid the steep rise in the Covid-19 cases, unclaimed dead bodies had not been disposed for months from the police morgue in the Saktinagar district hospital in Nadia.

A total of 18 unclaimed bodies have been rotting since the last three months, while the sub-divisional officer in Krishnagar for unknown reason had not granted permission to dispose of the bodies till the news published.

The situation was concerning because the unclaimed bodies were taking up the capacity of the morgue. The district hospital authority was unable to allow the police to keep new unidentified bodies in the police morgue.

The situation had become so serious at a time when barely a month ago, a disturbing video of decomposed bodies being loaded into a van at a crematorium in southern Kolkata was widely shared on social media, prompting Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to tweet his anguish at the "disposal of dead bodies with heartless, indescribable insensitivity" and forcing the authorities to issue clarifications.

“These bodies are also not of Covid patients, but the bodies which are all unidentified or unclaimed should immediately dispose. The morgue has no capacity to take new such bodies as all rakes are full now”, a source placed in the Saktinagar district hospital had said.

When asked, Dr Aparesh Bandapadhyay, Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), had also said, “I have written to all concern to clear the bodies from the police morgue immediately. I will not divulge anything more.”

A senior police officer in Kotwali police station had said, “This police morgue is entitled to keep unclaimed bodies recovered from police station areas under Krishnagar and Tehatta sub-division areas. The capacity to keep such bodies in this police morgue is 18 and at present all rakes are full. So, if any unclaimed body is recovered now, then it will be very troublesome to the concerned police station as there is no place to keep such a body in the morgue”.

Recently, the hospital superintendent and the IC, Kotwali, got involved in a hot altercation on the matter to keep an unidentified body in the police morgue. Later, realizing the security matters inside the hospital premises (which often the Kotwali police extend their help), the hospital super agreed to keep an unidentified body in the police morgue, a police officer said.

A senior official of the Saktinagar district hospital had said Manish Verma, SDO, Sadar, was the sole responsible for not granting permission to dispose of the bodies from the police morgue. “The reason for not granting permission is not clear, but we think that during this pandemic situation, he is probably not taking any risk”, the official had opined.

India hands over 10 broad gauge diesel engines to Bangladesh to strengthen ties despite pandemic

India hands over 10 broad gauge diesel engines to Bangladesh to strengthen ties despite pandemic 

“Our neighbourhood policy follows PM Shri Narendra Modi ji's vision of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas. The leadership of both, India & Bangladesh, are committed to reviving the pre-1965 railway connection between the two countries. Out of the 7 rail links that existed then, 4 are functional now.”

Hummingbird News

GEDE, 28 JULY: India on Monday handed over ten broad gauge (BG) diesel locomotives to Bangladesh, reflecting a renewed focus on the 'neighbourhood first' policy to bolster economic ties and connectivity within the region.

In a handing over ceremony locomotives were virtually flagged off to Bangladesh by the External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar and the Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal. From the Bangladesh end, Minister of Railway, Md. Nurul Islam Sujan and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abul Kalam Abdul Momen received the locomotives on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh.

The handing over of these locomotives, under grant assistance from the Government of India, fulfills an important commitment made during the visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina to India, in October, 2019. In keeping with the requirements of Bangladesh Railway, the locomotives have been suitably modified by the Indian side.

These locomotives will help handle the increasing volume of passenger and freight train operations in Bangladesh. The physical location of the handover was the Gede station of the Eastern Railways in West Bengal's Nadia district and the receiving station was Darshana in Bangladesh.

Speaking on the occasion, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar said, “I am delighted to join this ceremony of handing over 10 locomotives to Bangladesh. I am glad to know that Parcel and container trains have been started between both the countries. This will open up new opportunities for our businesses. I am happy to note that movements of trade by rail have been ensured. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the supplies of essentials particularly in the holy month of Ramadan were ensured.”

He further highlighted the depth of time tested India-Bangladesh ties, based on mutual trust and respect. He expressed his happiness that the COVID pandemic had not slowed down the pace of bilateral cooperation and conveyed that he looked forward to more such milestones in the ongoing historic Mujib Barsho.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal said, “It gives me immense pleasure to hand over 10 broad gauge locomotives for the use of Bangladesh Railways. These locomotives will be useful in handling the on-going freight train operations between India & Bangladesh. To ensure the usability of these locos in Bangladesh, they have been modified. We have been huge strides forward in our respective efforts at achieving development & growth. India & Bangladesh have come a long way in the last few years. Our bilateral relationship today is at its very best.”
“Our neighbourhood policy follows PM Shri Narendra Modi ji's vision of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas. The leadership of both, India & Bangladesh, are committed to reviving the pre-1965 railway connection between the two countries. Out of the 7 rail links that existed then, 4 are functional now.”

 To further strengthen rail connectivity in the region, one new rail link, between Agartala in India and Akhaura in Bangladesh is being constructed & finance under Grant Assistance of India. During COVID-19, both Railways have shown exemplary foresight in managing the crisis and maintained the supply chain by stepping up transportation of essential commodities. Parcel train and container train services have been introduced via Benapole in Bangladesh. Both these services have already started in the month of July.

“These have enabled us to move a wide range of products from both sides. Railways have ensured that the two countries can continue our bilateral trade without any disruption & health risk. Both Railways are ensuring a better future for the people,” Mr Goel said.

During his address, on behalf of the Indian Railways, Mr Goyal also committed complete, unstinted & unlimited support to Bangladesh in its development of Bangladesh rail network. He underscored the significance of railway cooperation in enhancing bilateral trade and connectivity and in further boosting the economic partnership between the two countries.

In the recent times, India and Bangladesh have stepped up their rail cooperation in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as trade via land border faced disruptions. Rail as a cost effective and environmental friendly solution, has helped in transporting essential commodities across the border. Both sides saw the highest ever exchange of freight trains in the month of June. A total of 103 freight trains were utilized for carrying essential commodities and raw materials.

Recently, parcel and container train services have also commenced between India and Bangladesh. This is expected to significantly enhance the scope of bilateral trade.

18 unclaimed dead bodies rotting inside the police morgue in Saktinagar district hospital since last three months during Covid situation

18 unclaimed dead bodies rotting inside the police morgue in Saktinagar district hospital since last three months during Covid situation 

When asked, Dr Aparesh Bandapadhyay, Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), said, “I have written to all concerned to clear the bodies from the police morgue immediately. I will not divulge anything more.”

                  

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News

KRISHNAGAR, 24 JULY: Amid the steep rise in the Covid-19 cases, unclaimed dead bodies are not being disposed of for months from the police morgue in the Saktinagar district hospital in Nadia.

A total of 18 unclaimed bodies have been rotting since the last three months, while the sub-divisional officer in Krishnagar for unknown reason has not granted permission to dispose of the bodies yet.

The situation is concerning because the unclaimed bodies are taking up the capacity of the mortuary. The district hospital authority is now unable to allow the police to keep new unidentified bodies in the police morgue.

The situation has become so serious at a time when barely a month ago, a disturbing video of decomposed bodies being loaded into a van at a crematorium in southern Kolkata was widely shared on social media, prompting Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to tweet his anguish at the "disposal of dead bodies with heartless, indescribable insensitivity" and forcing the authorities to issue clarifications.

The authorities were also forced to deny claims by the locals protesting at the crematorium and the BJP that the bodies were of those who died due to coronavirus.

The West Bengal Health Department later had informed that dead bodies were not of COVID patients, but were unclaimed/unidentified bodies from Hospital Morgue.

“These bodies are also not of Covid patients, but the bodies which are all unidentified or unclaimed should immediately dispose. The morgue has no capacity to take new such bodies as all rakes are full now”, said a source placed in the Saktinagar district hospital.

When asked, Dr Aparesh Bandapadhyay, Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), said, “I have written to all concerned to clear the bodies from the police morgue immediately. I will not divulge anything more.”

A senior police officer in Kotwali police station said, “This police morgue is entitled to keep unclaimed bodies recovered from police station areas under Krishnagar and Tehatta sub-division areas. The capacity to keep such bodies in this police morgue is 18 and at present all rakes are full. So, if any unclaimed body is recovered now, then it will be very troublesome to the concerned police station as there is no place to keep such a body in the morgue”.

Recently, the hospital superintendent and the IC, Kotwali, got involved in a hot altercation on the matter to keep an unidentified body in the police morgue. Later, realizing the security matters inside the hospital premises ( which often the Kotwali police extend their help ), the hospital super agreed to keep an unidentified body in the police morgue, a police officer said.

A senior official of the Saktinagar district hospital said Manish Verma, SDO, Sadar, is the sole responsible for not granting permission to dispose of the bodies from the police morgue. “The reason for not granting permission is not clear, but we think that during this pandemic situation, he is probably not taking any risk”, the official opined.

Mr Verma was not available for his comment.

IIT-Kharagpur researchers develop ultra-low-cost portable first-of-its-kind device for Covid-19 rapid test

IIT-Kharagpur researchers develop ultra-low-cost portable first-of-its-kind device for Covid-19 rapid test

The entire rapid test can be conducted in an ultra-low-cost portable device with the test results available in a customized smartphone application for dissemination within 1 hour without requiring manual interpretation. All of this at a cost of around INR 400/- per test.

         

 Biswabrata Goswami

 Hummingbird News

KHARAGPUR, 25 JULY: In a unique effort, researchers at IIT Kharagpur have innovated a novel portable rapid diagnostic device to detect COVID-19 infection. This first-of-its-kind device will bring the testing for COVID-19 out from the walls of expensive laboratories and RT-PCR machines and enable testing at affordable costs for the under-served community across the world.

This entire test with the extracted RNA from the patient saliva samples can be conducted in an ultra-low-cost portable enclosure as an alternative to specialized laboratory equipment. The same portable unit can be used for a large number of tests, on mere replacement of the paper cartridge after each test. The device has been proven to produce no false result with remarkable accuracy and sensitivity compatible to standard RT-PCR tests.

This test has an unprecedented low cost of less than Rs 400/- per test, taking all components of expenses and business model into account.

Considering the impending outbreak of COVID-19 infection at progressively more geographical locations with the anticipated increment in number of affected personnel at a dramatic rate, there is an emergent need to run large numbers of reliable diagnostic tests at affordable cost and minimal infrastructural support, for monitoring the early stages of progression of the disease when many of the infected persons do not exhibit discernible symptoms of infection.

A team of researchers from IIT Kharagpur, contemplating on the challenge, realized the alternative cannot be new innovations for the existing detection systems such as testing kits and PCR machines but a disruptive approach leading to a new technology and testing process being innovated without sacrificing the scientific rigor and medically acceptable high standards of the test results.

The research team has successfully validated the detection procedure, taking time of approximately 60 minutes to run each test. 

This obviates the need of an expensive PCR machine, by means of a set of innovations such as a portable automated pre-programmable temperature control unit for the genomic analysis, coupled with a specially functionalized detection unit on a simple strip of paper, and a customized smartphone application for dissemination of test results without requiring manual interpretation. While the Institute can produce the testing kit up to a certain scale, patent licensing will facilitate commercialization opportunities for medical technology companies.

Under the guidance of the Professors, the device design and fabrication work has been spearheaded by doctoral student Mr. Sujay Kumar Biswas, and the bio-analytical protocol has been standardized by doctoral students Mr. Saptarshi Banerjee and Ms. Nandita Kedia. Dr. Aditya Bandopahyay has further helped in developing the thermal unit.

Highlighting the need for such equipment, Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, said, “In assessing the utility of a specific method of disease detection, there is a common failure to recognize that the cost of the test kit may not turn out to be the most critical factor from the viewpoint of affordable diagnosis, unlike what is being commonly portrayed. Rather, the greater challenge is complete elimination of the need for any specialized infrastructure and ensuring the possibility of conducting tests at large scale at low cost without compromised accuracy. In that light, the RT-PCR based tests suffer from a compelling constraint of requiring an elaborate laboratory-infrastructure and support system including the operational and maintenance cost, to perform the test. The alternative existing approaches to these tests, on the other hand, are either invasive (blood tests) and non-indicative of early stage of development of the infection, or dependent on reagents that are extremely unstable and cannot be implemented in resource-limited settings.”

The Equipment developed by IIT Kharagpur Researchers will cost about ₹ 2,000 if a pilot facility is used. Use of a large-scale commercial facility will further reduce with increase in the production scale. This compares very favourably with the RT PCR machine costing ₹ 15 Lakh.

Further, Dr. Arindam Mondal, Assistant Professor, School of Bio Science, IIT Kharagpur, added, “The unique portable device developed by the IIT Kharagpur researchers has not only been validated for the diagnostics of COVID-19, but also been designed to be capable of detecting any other kind of RNA virus by following the same generic procedure. The impact of this, therefore, is long lasting, empowered by the capability of detecting unforeseen viral pandemics in the coming years that may potentially endanger human lives time and again.”

The project received financial support from the Institute in late April as Prof. V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur, decided to set up a fund to support COVID-19 related research and product development.

“This unique innovation is aligned with the Institutional vision to develop high-end healthcare technologies that can be afforded by the ailing common people all around the globe at virtually no cost, and is likely to make significant breakthrough in global viral pandemic management”, opined Director Prof. V K Tewari.

The Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India has also been reaching out to all technical institutions regarding ongoing research work to help address India's increasing need to augment testing facilities.

The results from this new technology have been strictly validated by following all established laboratory controls against the benchmarked results obtained from RT-PCR machine, using synthetic viral RNA. The synthetic RNA is exactly the same replicate of the viral RNA extracted from infected patients, as per accepted scientific benchmarking procedure, and is used for validating laboratory tests to avoid undue contamination and danger due to spreading of infection while handling sensitive body-fluid samples.

IIT Kharagpur is ready for commercialization of the product. Any corporate or start-up can approach the Institute for technology licensing and commercial scale of production. The Institute is open to tie-ups, including a mode where the government intervenes with regards to meeting our low-cost healthcare objective for the under-served community as a policy measure to protect the interest of public health amidst the pandemic situation, instead of merely developing a strong profit-oriented model.

Mamata Banerjee announces major rejig in TMC ahead of 2021 Bengal polls, includes ex-Maoist in the state committee

Mamata Banerjee announces major rejig in TMC ahead of 2021 Bengal polls, includes ex-Maoist in the state committee

  

                   

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News

KRISHNAGAR, 23 JULY: Ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls, West Bengal chief minister and Trinamul Congress suprimo Mamata Banerjee, today, made a major rejig in her party’s organizational posts.

With this announcement all the incumbent district units stands dissolved with immediate effect. Also, all other ad-hoc appointments done at district level and below stands absolved with immediate effect.

The newly appointed district office bearers shall form district, block and other relevant committees for their respective districts in consultation with the state coordination committee and share the same with the convener of the state coordination committee within seven days for approval of the chairperson of the party.

Spiralling protests over Amphan relief fund irregularities had already plagued the state’s incumbent formation with many senior-level leaders in the districts getting embroiled in the controversy. Be it distribution of food grains and tarpaulin in cyclone-ravaged pockets of Sunderbans or inclusion of ghost names in the list of beneficiaries – Trinamul Congress’ name cropped up almost everywhere.

To troubleshoot the party’s image in run up to the next year’s elections, Miss Banerjee made a number of changes in the Trinamul Congress from its core committee members to district presidents.

Announcing a major rejig, the West Bengal CM gave more priorities to younger and new faces in the party’s forefront that are relatively clean as far as their political image is concerned. She announced a new state committee with 21 members in it and a seven-member steering committee of the state coordination committee that included names of Abhishek Banerjee, Subhendu Adhikari, Partha Chatterjee, Subrata Bakshi (convenor), Firhad Hakim, Kalyan Banerjee and Shanta Chetri.

Besides this, the presidents of several districts including Howrah, Coochbehar, Purulia, Nadia, Jhargram and South Dinajpur were also removed.

New and younger faces such as Laxmi Ratan Shukla in Howrah, Mahua Moitra in Nadia, Dulal Murmu in Jhargram, Gurupad Tudu in Purulia and Shyamal Santra in Bankura have been given charge of the districts.

Interestingly, former People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) leader from Maoist-hit Lalgarh Chatradhar Mahato was included in the Trinamul state committee along with Churamoni Mahato and Sukumar Hnasda. Mahato was a prominent ultra-Left leader who gained prominence following the Salboni blast in November 2008. In 2020 he joined Trinamul Congress after being released from jail recently.

Sources in the party said that giving importance to Mahato at the state level can turn out to be Mamata’s political masterstroke ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls. Mahato who was convicted under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in 2015, will help Mamata to control the dreaded western region of Bengal known as Junglemahal – an imaginary belt now comprising four districts of Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram and West Midnapore.

Lockdown in Bengal on 23, 25 and 29 July from 6 am to 10 pm Nadia records highest spike of 135 Covid-19 suspected and 38 Covid-19 positive

Lockdown in Bengal on 23, 25 and 29 July from 6 am to 10 pm

Nadia records highest spike of 135 Covid-19 suspected and 38 Covid-19 positive

                

  Biswabrata Goswami

  Hummingbird News

KRISHNAGAR, 21 JULY: State-wide lockdown will be observed from 6 am to 10 pm on 23, 25 and 29 July wherein there would be complete closure of all activities except essential and emergency services.

During the lockdown all government and private offices, commercial establishments, public and private transport shall remain closed. 

Meanwhile, Nadia once again witnessed its highest single-day spike with 135 Covid-19 suspected cases recorded on Tuesday. The district has received reports of 38 persons who tested Covid-19 positive while the test reports of others have not been reached to the district health department yet. With this, the total number of novel coronavirus cases in the district stood at 481 and containment zone increased to 93.

According to the district health report, there are 6490 suspected cases till on Tuesday while the total number of patients released stand at 6315. A total number of 175 suspected patients are admitted in the isolation centers till today.

State Government's Lockdown Order:-

There are 120 active cases in the district and 42 persons are admitted in the Glocal hospital while 78 persons are admitted in the SNR Carnival, Kalyani.

Among the Covid-19 positive cases, three persons tested positive from Chakdah, eight persons from Chakdah municipality, five persons from Gayeshpur municipality,, two persons from Hanskhali, four persons from Kalyani municipality, eight persons from Krishnaganj, two persons from Ranaghat municipality, one person each from Haringhata, Haringhata municipality, Kaliganj, Santipur, Santipur municipality and Tehatta.

According to the reports from the district health department, the authorities have collected samples from 338 and till today, samples have been collected from 32336.

A senior health department official said, “The overall situation is very much alarming as people are not maintaining precautions. Many people are seen travelling or walking or cycling without wearing masks. They are even not maintaining social distancing. As a result, many areas are moving fast towards community transmission or infection.”  

Meanwhile, a sense of panic gripped the medical community, after two prominent doctors tested Covid-19 positive in Krishnagar. “More medical persons are supposed to be infected as their reports have not been reached here yet. In Santipur, the same situation has been brewed up after three doctors tested Covid-19 positive. The hospital was temporarily closed for a temporary period three days ago, but today the outpatient department has been reopened for the sake of common people. Before reopening the outpatient department, the hospital was thoroughly sanitized”, a senior health official said.

Contact tracing and precautions are now being implemented with all the medical professionals including doctors and hospitals; they have come in contact with.

Meanwhile, Mahua Moitra, a Trinamul Congress MP from Krishnagar advised people to follow the pandemic guidelines properly. “Many people have started feeling that spread of the virus have come down. They are deliberately violating social distancing and they most of the time prefer to be unguarded (unmasked). This should not be continued. Many para-military persons do not want to stay in the quarantine after reaching their villages. While two jawans tested positive after returning from Kashmir,” she said.

IIT, Kharagpur researchers develop an advanced weather prediction system for farming community

 

IIT, Kharagpur researchers develop an advanced weather prediction system for farming community  

 “Besides sending the agro-advisory, we also conduct training and awareness programmes regularly in villages on organic farming, vermicomposting, hydroponics, integrated farming, advanced production technology, etc for sustainable agricultural growth, farmers’ capacity building, rural employment generation, increasing economic profit, etc.,” remarked Prof. Virendra Kumar Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur.

Special Correspondent

Hummingbird News

KHARAGPUR, 19 JULY: Researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed an advanced weather prediction system to facilitate better decision making in agricultural production and reduction of climatic uncertainties and risks.  

Sponsored by the Ministry of Earth Sciences the two projects ‘Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa’ ‘and ‘Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agrometeorology & Land based observations’ provide timely and right management decisions to farmers to minimize the climatic risk of agricultural production and improve economic return of farming community.

The Institute, in collaboration with India Meteorological Department, is disseminating a weather based agro-advisory to farmers for improving agricultural production in highly variable weather conditions. 

“The agro-advisory indicating crop and variety selection, sowing/planting time, land preparation, input management, harvest, etc are prepared based on future weather and land characteristics of specific location,” said Prof. Dilip Kumar Swain, from the Dept. of Agricultural & Food Engineering at IIT Kharagpur.

Yield forecasting of crops such as rice, mustard and potato are done at the beginning of sowing/planting, during cropping season and before crop harvest for different districts of West Bengal for introducing specific actions to avoid the yield loss due to weather abnormalities.

“Farmers get awareness on input management such as fertilizer, irrigation, and pesticide application every week throughout the cropping season. Based on a five-day weather forecast, the agro-advisory is prepared on Tuesday and Friday every week and communicated to farmers’ through their mobile phone,” he added.  

The advisory is sent in local language to about 3 lakh farmers of five districts (West Medinipur, Jharagram, Bankura, Birbhum, and Purulia) in West Bengal. The advisory is also communicated to district level agricultural officers, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, NGOs, farmers’ portal, TV programme, etc. 

Using the advisory, farmers protect their crop from extreme events and reduce the production cost by need based irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide application. 

“Besides sending the agro-advisory, we also conduct training and awareness programmes regularly in villages on organic farming, vermicomposting, hydroponics, integrated farming, advanced production technology, etc for sustainable agricultural growth, farmers’ capacity building, rural employment generation, increasing economic profit, etc.,” remarked Prof. Virendra Kumar Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur.

A good response from the farmers was received about the agromet advisory services provided by IIT Kharagpur, he confirmed.