The project will be undertaken on a 10 hectare plot for a period of three years.

Under the project, organic manure and natural pesticides will be distributed to the farmers free of cost for cultivation.

Also, the department will set up farmer field schools to generate awareness on the benefits of organic farming. The state government will also sponsor training for the farmers to make them familiar with the techniques of the organic farming.

Villages, where chemical fertilizers are used on a large scale, have been chosen for the project.

For this year, one village each in 14 districts has been chosen for the project while two villages have been chosen in Jalpaiguri, Bankura and Hooghly that makes 20 villages from 17 districts, excluding Kolkata and Darjeeling.

“The green revolution which was accompanied by the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides had adverse effects on the environment,” said SD Chatterjee, Director of Agriculture, West Bengal.

“The idea is to promote a balanced use of chemical fertilisers and organic manures to help curb pollution, increase soil fertility and have a less detrimental effect on the environment,” he added. The project started in the year 2005-06 on a small-scale in eight districts of the state.

The positive feedbacks led to the extension of the program to other districts as well.