Overview of the Campus

College of Agriculture at GPS 23^o14’ N and 87^o51’E, Burdwan Sadar, an extended campus of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya was established on July 9, 2014 by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee. Prior to this, two Agricultural Universities - Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (which was previously a Faculty of Agriculture under Kalyani University) established in the year 1974 and another Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (which was previously an extended campus of BCKV) established in the year 2001 have been contributing momentously to the agricultural education system of West Bengal. Besides, one faculty at Sriniketan in the name of “Palli Siksha Bhavana” under Visva-Bharati (1967) and one at institute of Agriculture (under Calcutta University) where only Master degree in agriculture discipline is being offered.

Burdwan, one of the agriculturally progressive districts also known as the “Granary” of West Bengal is situated in between 22.56^o S to 23.53^o  N latitude and 83.25^oE to 86.48^oE longitudes covering an area of about 7024 sq. kms. It is bounded on the north by the Dumka of Bihar, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts, on the east by Nadia, on the south by Hooghly and Bankura, and on the west by Dhanbad district of Jharkhand. The natural boundaries formed by the rivers to the north, east and south are fairly constant and there have been no major changes over the period. The river system in Burdwan includes the Bhagirathi-Hooghly in the east, the Ajoy and its tributaries in the north and the Dwarakeswar, the Damodar and its branches in the south-west.

However, it is the only district in West Bengal that is fortunate both in industry and agriculture. On an average,about 58 percent of the total population belongs to the agricultural population while the non-agricultural sector accounts for the remaining 42 percent.

The eastern, northern, southern and central areas of the district are extensively cultivated but the soil of the western portion being extreme lateritic type is unfit for cultivation except in the narrow valleys and depressions having rich soil and good moisture. The cultivation in the district improved since 1953 with the implementation of the irrigation projects undertaken by the Damodar Valley Corporation. Up to 1953 the cultivation was entirely dependent on the monsoon, and irrigation facilities were rather inadequate and more or less primitive. Due to uncertain monsoon and depletion of underground water level a major part of arable land of the district remains barren in the recent years when the requirement for food production is increasing with the population burst.

In spite of having immense potential to grow different crops of importance, the farmers of this region mainly grow Rice and Potato. In some areas commercial crops jute, mesta and sugarcane, potato, oilseeds are cultivated in marginal or semi-marginal lands. Recently,cultivation of former two crops is facing tremendous competition with synthetic fibres and due to lack of industry area under sugarcane cultivation is reducing remarkably.

Here comes the need to disseminate the knowledge among the farmers by the agriculturally expert personnel to inculcate them regarding adoption of diversified and sustainable cropping pattern according to soil, weather and stress condition in marginal lands.

As a step forward towards the dream of modern agriculture training and education, one College of Agriculture (as an extended campus of BCKV) was established at the Agriculture Farm, Gate No. 1, Kalna Road, Burdwan, W.B -713101 and it started functioning from 21st July, 2014 initially with the strength of 31 students, 7 teachers and 5 office staff.

The college at present like a new baby of BCKV is facing different gaps, lacuna and weakness but the strength is the mental make-up of the teachers, students and the supporting staff besides active support from the Government that is impelling them to nourish it to make the college a leading agricultural institution. It has started with only one faculty i.e., agriculture in regard to the studies at undergraduate level. Apart from teaching, the recruited teachers are also involved with need based research and extension activities for transfer of technologies to the stakeholders and farmers.