In West Bengal, a notable change in agricultural practices is taking place, with a pivot from traditional wheat farming to the cultivation of alternative crops like banana, lentils, and maize, particularly in the Murshidabad and Nadia districts adjacent to Bangladesh. This transition is largely attributed to the emergence of wheat blast, a fungal disease that surfaced in Bangladesh in 2016, prompting a temporary prohibition on wheat cultivation by the state government to mitigate the spread of the pathogen. The moratorium, which aimed to 'starve' the disease, lasted until 2022.
The repercussions of the wheat cultivation ban have been significant, compelling farmers to explore other crops to circumvent potential losses from the disease. The adaptation has led to the introduction of paddy in some areas, diversifying the region's agricultural landscape. Concurrently, maize has seen a substantial uptick in production, with state government data indicating an increase from 325,000 tonnes in 2011 to 2.9 million tonnes in 2023, underscoring a shift towards more resilient and profitable agricultural practices.
Source: downtoearth.org.in