Page 471 - Kaleidoscope Academic Conference Proceedings 2024

Revitalising Agriculture in South 24 Parganas: Strategies for

Sustainable Farming and Direct Sales

st
1 Utsab Bhowmick 2 nd Pritam Majhi
Student, Diploma in Computer Science and Technology Student, Diploma in Computer Science and Technology
Uluberia Government Polytechnic Uluberia Government Polytechnic
utsabbhowmick2019@gmail.com pritammajhi10@gmail.com

rd
3 Shriya Goswami
Lecturer in Computer Science and Technology
Uluberia Government Polytechnic
shriya.goswami1989@gmail.com

Abstract— The paper explores the various challenges faced show that microfinance minimizes financial crises and
by farmers in the South 24 Parganas region of West Bengal. enhances access to credit and investments. Pensions also
These challenges include inadequate financial support, limited making a significant contribution to income. The study
technical knowledge, unsustainable farming practices, overpro-
duction, market price fluctuations, and a lack of basic facilities emphasizes the crucial role of microfinance in socio-
and amenities. These issues have led to a decline in interest economic upliftment and recommends further research
in farming and an increase in land sales among the farming on its long-term impacts better to understand its role in
community. Our study aims to propose effective strategies to em- poverty alleviation and economic development. However
power farmers, improve financial stability, and foster community the surplus production as well as farming capacity has
development. We conducted thorough surveys and interviews to
gather data. A key contribution of our research is the proposal an impact on the economy [9]The study looked at how
of a mobile application. This app facilitates direct interactions much extra rice farmers in West Bengal had to sell. It
between sellers and buyers, spreads awareness, educates people found that big farms had more rice to sell than small
about effective farming techniques, and motivates young people farms. They found that about half of all the rice grown
to pursue farming. The innovative app includes user profiles, was sold, and big farms sold more rice than small farms.
a recommendation system for personalized product discovery,
and a chat feature with real-time translation, ensuring smooth Things like having a big farm, getting a good price for
communication and efficient deal-making rice, and having a place to keep rice all helped farmers
sell more. But if a family had lots of people living with
Keywords—Sustainable Farming, Direct Sales, Mobile Ap- them or owed money, they couldn’t sell as much rice.
plication, Farmer Empowerment, Awareness, Market Price Compared to other places where lots of farming happens,
Fluctuations, Real-Time Translations, Supervised Learning,
NLP West Bengal didn’t have as much extra rice to sell because
of how families lived and how much they owed. In India,
farmers need good ways to sell their rice to make sure
1 INTRODUCTION
there’s enough food and to have enough money. [10]This
The government has taken steps such as microfinance study looked at how farmers in a place called Keshpur
and self-help groups, especially for women [4], to sell their rice. They talked to farmers and other people
enhance their impact by providing modern farming skills. who help sell rice. They found that there are different
These initiatives highlight the beneficial role of self-help ways farmers can sell their rice, like to village merchants,
groups in improving rural women’s socio-economic Dalals, Arhatia, or the government. Farmers can maximize
status and decision-making abilities. However, farmers their profits by selling their produce to the government,but
are losing interest due to increasing cultivation costs they incur significant expenses in transporting the rice.
and lower demand and sales for their produce. These To support farmers, the government should facilitate
economic pressures make it difficult for farmers to the sale of their rice by providing resources such as
repay their loans on time, leading to financial stress and bags for storage, covering the transportation costs, and
diminishing enthusiasm for continuing in agriculture. In streamlining the process.Additionally, farmers encounter
a recent study conducted in Murshidabad, West Bengal, difficulties in selling fruits and vegetables due to the need
[2]the impact of microfinance on rural farmers was for cold storage [5], in West Bengal, there is a shortage
examined. The study revealed significant improvements of cold storage facilities, resulting in produce not staying
in living standards, income, savings, and employment fresh for long. Although the government is working to
opportunities. With farming as their primary source of establish more cold storage facilities, challenges such
income, averaging Rs.325,435/- annually, most loans are as insufficient funds and limited storage space persist.
short-term and are preferred over money lenders due Despite West Bengal’s significant production of fruits and
to the absence of collateral requirements. The findings

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