Agriculture

Tea is something more than a drink for us—it is a way of being. From the first sip of the

Dense black clouds hover in the sky, intermittently showering steady rainfall, and while gazing at the developing saplings soaked in

Feeding millions is no ordinary task, but Bengal’s farmers have done just that. This year, they harvested a staggering 25.653 million metric

In the fertile, silt-rich Sundarbans, during the Kharif season, farmers used to harvest good yields of various indigenous rice varieties without using any

Birbhum, the land of red soil, has long been known as Rabindranath Tagore’s workplace, Tarashankar’s birthplace, the Kopai River, Sonajhuri Haat, Shantiniketan, Tarapith,

In 1922, Rabindranath wrote: "Phire chol matir tane / je mati añcal pete cheye achhe mukher pane" (Return by the call of

There are times when the very sight of food puts you off and everything looks dull and bland and you

The very ingredient that builds the flavour of biryani, and yet the one we push aside while eating it, is

It is a typical weekday morning at the Bishnupur market. People move on busily and the entire place is buzzing

Producing 25.653 million metric tons of paddy is not so easy! It is undoubtedly a historic milestone in agriculture. The

An apple tree on a rooftop? It may sound unbelievable, but Pulak Jowardar, a science teacher at Bardakanta Vidyapith in Siliguri, has

Bengalis and tea share an unbreakable bond. The whole world is enamoured with the charm of Darjeeling tea. However, coffee

Millets, once overshadowed by rice and wheat in West Bengal, are now gaining momentum thanks to the efforts of the Switch

Tribal women of Bengal’s Jhargram are now turning trendsetters in organic indigenous rice farming that is bringing huge profits pegging

Once upon a time Bengal had more than 5,000 region-specific, indigenous varieties of rice, and the erstwhile Province of Bengal

India has been abuzz with a special Japanese mango, Taiyo No Tamago, being cultivated in Jabalpur under tight security, including

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlRNqPn8rL8 Hardly did I imagine while taking a cab from Durgapur, that my quest to explore Bengal’s traditional paddy would end

Conservation and intensifying cultivation of traditional crop varieties is a prime way to cope up with future food crisis. Genetic

Organic Haat, Rajarhat Here is some good grand news for health freaks of Bengal. The first Organic Haat has been opened

Local women of Takipara or ‘Mukto-Gram’ village have been cultivating pearls in the ponds in Dumurdaha-Takipara area since 2016. Initiated by the Government of

People have much become health conscious nowadays, many are aware of the negative effects of hybrid farming and other such

The women-led Sundarini cooperative in the Sundarbans is transforming lives with the aim of empowering local women. The West Bengal state government launched

The Indian plains are notorious for their long, harsh summer months. But summer also brings mangoes, something that Indians look forward to

OThere's nothing quite as satisfying as the first bite of a sweet, juicy, freshly picked apple. Apples, one of the

Winters become vibrant with the arrival of colourful vegetables in the Bengal markets. Carrots, beans, cauliflower, beetroot, and broccoli brighten

The very fragrance of Govindobhog is to die for.  It was a washout monsoon day in Kolkata with the streets flooded

Farmers in Belda choose to cultivate groundnuts As inflation and expenditure are making a deep dent in the earnings of cultivators,

Breadfruit has several health advantages Throughout the world, in the following centuries, countries developed their own versions of bread. Some leavened,

Pig Farming in West Bengal Pig farming in India is one of the most lucrative and profitable livestock businesses and most

As the summer’s blistering heat soars up by the minute, the only solace you can find in is: Mango! ‘Every

Purnima Mondal with her two daughters   The rural economy is the backbone of Bengal’s financial resources. It holds significant potential for

The district of Malda is traditionally known for its mangoes which have an international reach. But now the farmers of

For almost 17 years now, I have single-handedly collected almost 400 seeds of indigenous paddy, out of which 14 varieties

For almost 17 years now, I have single-handedly collected almost 400 seeds of indigenous paddy, out of which 14 varieties

FDue to globalization, now we have the opportunity to experience almost everything from every part of the world sitting in

(The author is the founder of 'Patharpratima Runners', an organization for cultivation and seed conservation). Traditionally, the low-lying delta of Sundarbans

All these years there was a perception that southern states of India grow the ever-worldwide popular coconut in abundance and

‘Save Trees, Save plants, Save Birds, Save Waterbodies’…. But what about saving seeds? And that too seeds of indigenous varieties of

Aparupa Basu is a freelance video editor and has a passion for travelling If you have heard of the Valley of

When the aroma of exotic kesar (saffron) spice mix, subtle rose (gulab), and oh-so-tender lamb meat emanates from the handi

Here is some great news for the fish lovers of Bengal. The big Rohu and Katla fishes that were in

He was one of the pioneers in food distribution system and rural agricultural economy of India. Renowned economist Abhijit Sen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UTtt8SkACY He did his PhD from IIT Kharagpur in Rural Development, she did from the same IIT in Economics. Little did

Sheikh Mohammad Makim of Daffarchak village in Jangipara, Hooghly, is cultivating black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), a common and widespread

Have you recently come across something in the supermarket or local markets that look like cauliflower but instead of the

On May 26, 2021, Cyclone Yaas slammed into the northern coast of the Bay of Bengal during high tides. Massive

West Bengal over a couple of years have been rocked by several cyclones, including four major cyclones - Bulbul in

'Who says organic pesticide-free paddy and vegetables record less production compared to so-called high-yielding crops treated with chemical fertilisers and

West Bengal will now have access to superior quality GI prawns which will be available in Haldia and West Midnapore

Species extinction due to natural and man-made influences is undeniable and a serious threat to our planet. Once they are

At a time when India is going through multiple farmer uprisings, chartering demands for their rights, one is often reminded

In 2000 I joined the Agriculture and Training Centre in Phulia that was established in 1952. Everything was in place

In 2000 I joined the Agriculture and Training Centre in Phulia that was established in 1952. Everything was in place

The United Nations’ World Food Programme won the Nobel Peace Prize this year for its efforts to combat hunger in

October 15 is the UN International Day of Rural Women. This day, which was first established in 2008, recognizes “the

The dragon fruit, also known as 'pitaya', and sometimes as strawberry pear, is a tropical fruit with a distinctive bright

This is an inspiring story of a group of poverty-stricken Shabar women who became independent through a project that many

One of the biggest cyclones of the century --- Cyclone Amphaan might have ravaged the paddy fields and fisheries of

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNtBxwEf4is The plains of lush green and fertile Bengal have always boasted of the best varieties of paddy since time immemorial.

With the aim of preserving the ecological balance of the Sundarbans and promoting it as the country’s only attractive mangrove

The celestial show is on and this year end Calcuttans will be lucky to get a glimpse of the same.

The devastating effects of the recent cyclonic storm, Bulbul, had taught Bengal one lesson – how important the Mangrove Forests

Two tea varieties of Darjeeling have finally received the prestigious GI tag. Registered under “Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and

In the heart of South Kolkata stands the gardens of paradise that will be celebrating its 200th year. Yes, we

Cyclone Bulbul has left an aftermath in Bengal, so much so that it has threatened to accelerate the coastal erosion

25th May 2009 and 9th November 2019 seem to be bound by one thread --- deadly cyclones daring to hit

Last year around 600 -900 migratory birds had landed in Santragachhi, far lower than the numbers before. Many environmentalists have

For the one who flips through the pages of history, you get to know how Lord Rama had performed Durga

Kalimpong and Kurseong have always been held as the Land of Orchids. But imagine orchids growing in the plains of

Imagine a Wolf roaming the mangroves of Sunderbans! Well, that’s what happened recently in the Sunderbans that falls under Bangladesh.

Recent reports revealed by Geological Survey of India and Central Department of Geology show atleast 11 ports of India are

Farmers in Birbhum are happy as they have now a new source of income and that too comes from the

Raksha Bandhan, a festival that celebrates the special bond between a brother and sister and this year round Kolkata markets

Mosquito repellant come with their side effects too. Most of them are laden with chemicals and inhaling the toxic fumes

The mangrove forests of Sunderbans of Bengal have indeed been made more majestic thanks to the Royal Bengal Tigers. This

Have you ever heard of paddy breeds called Dui Satin (two wives of a polygamous man) or Teen Satin? They

An earthquake of 5.5 magnitude on Richter scale struck Arunachal Pradesh sending shock waves along Darjeeling, Sikkim and Siliguri bringing

Living in a concrete jungle, we always look out for a piece of greenery, a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately,

Tonight, will certainly not be an ordinary night. For today you will witness the second lunar eclipse of this year.

Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) has recently joined hands with a UK based company for commercial production of polythene from

While moving around the city, do you often realize that the trees around us are struggling to breathe? The overabundance

If you are a fish-lover you must have heard name of the fish Aar. This fish belongs to the family

In China and Japan, full grown trees are regularly transplanted. In India we simply cut hundreds of trees to pave

Remember the last time you paid a visit to the holy site of Tarapith? The premises would be full of

Ever heard of Hilsa or Bengal’s Ilish being reared in a pond? As monsoon knocks at our doors, every household

Imagine that you are in the middle of a dense forest with wild animals roaming about. The tweet of the

Birds are extremely vulnerable to heat. More than animals and often die from heat strokes. With the day and even

Wildlife trade and trafficking have destroyed various wild species in various corners of the world in recent times. After arms

Gobhir Mallika --- Imagine a gigantic black hole having a poetic name and that too in Bengali! But this imagination

Rabindra Sarovar Lake is a slice of peaceful greenery amidst the busy urban backdrop of Kolkata. It has been playing

Gobhir Mallika --- Imagine a gigantic black hole having a poetic name and that too in Bengali! But this imagination

Amidst the disaster that extreme cyclonic storm Fani is causing to Orissa and Bengal, here comes a new alert for

Most of us get so caught in the web of life and forget to care about the rest of the

One of the most precious member of the Botanical Gardens is the 300-year-old Great Banyan Tree. Keeping in mind the

Mosquito menace at Kolkata Airport! Well, if you thought this is the cover name of a detective novel, be in

If you have been to Santiniketan in Spring or during Basanta Utsav, you must have watched hordes of urbanites crowding

Dol- the Festival of Colours, popularly known as Basanta Utsav, is just a few days away. A group of specially-abled

The day doesn’t seem to start without that warm cuppa of tea every morning for any Bengali. Having the tea

We often tend to undermine our stray dogs, popularly named as ‘Neri’ in Bengal and most dog lovers have been

Reetwika Banerjee is a Cyber Security Expert by profession, an avid traveller, a shutterbug and a nature explorer. A private garden

Who knew that cultivation of grass would make farmers earn lakhs? Since ages, farmers have been concentrating on cultivation of

There is a folklore about Mishmi Takin which says, “One day, the Forest God, Golo, came across an odd stone.

‘The youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity…..’ Three youths from Balurghat proved it right yet again by

Birders of the ‘Lake’ have joined hands to showcase the faunal diversity of Rabindra Sarobar. If you have visited this

Shibpur’s Botanical Gardens is famous for its abundance of rare species of trees and plants, most significantly the Great Banayan

Panshkura of East Midnapore has always been well-known for its flower production. Various types of flowers, especially rose, rhizoid, gladiolas,

The onset of winter is synonymous to fresh fruits and vegetables. Cabbage is one of the vegetables that certainly grabs

It’s often said that tea can make you forget the din of the world. Tourists at Ayodhya Hills might soon

Alipore Zoo is having a tough time with its tiger population, not because of diseases or their behavior, but simply

The one thing that definitely acts as a mood enhancer for a woman is a sizzling lipstick. It has been

Have you tasted those yummilicious mangoes this season? If not, you would be surely doing soon. Incidentally, Bengal is the

Every morning, the first rays of the sun touch its spirited cells. New leaves are born and the tree gets

At 62, Pijush Kanti Saha of Katwa is all smiles. This super energetic retired school teacher and botanist has finally

Sayantan Ghosh is a Senior Research Fellow at Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute. Wildlife Photography and Nature Study is

Bengal’s district of Bankura that is popularly known as the ‘Rarh region of Bengal’ is exploring new avenues of revenue

The orange orchards of Darjeeling, Mirik, Bijanbari, Kurseong, have always been famous for their delicious oranges. When the rest of

Kopai River (also called Sal River) is synonymous with Rabindranath Tagore and Santiniketan. A tributary of river Mayurakshi, it flows

Do not feel frightened of these anacondas, that will soon grace the Zoological Garden in Alipore, for they are not

Just imagine a 123-year-old about to deliver its first fruits! Scientists are waiting eagerly for the 123-year-old double coconut tree

About two years ago satellite pictures of the city was released and analyzed. The result was extremely grim. The city’s

The Alipore Zoo is all set to have new inmates this winter. Four grey kangaroos, known to be the fastest

The news of finding a vast fossil forest at Ilambazar in Birbhum has garnered enough interest both among geologists and

Almost 374 crore was approved by the state level committee looking after green projects for beautification and protecting Bengal’s flora

Environmentalists of West Bengal Pollution Control Board feels this year the air pollution over Kolkata might be less compared to