Blackgram Seed Production in Malda: A Profitable and Sustainable Farming Practice for Livelihood
Village: Paschim Narayanpur, Malda (West Bengal)
Enterprise Group: Active Member, Milan Tithi SHG • NICRA Village Lead
Ms. Alpana Chowdhury owns 0.26 ha of land equipped with a private pump set setup. Actively involved in agriculture since childhood supporting her father, she transitioned into self-directed independent farming post-marriage, combining generational wisdom with modern technical expertise.
The Farming Journey
Initially, Ms. Alpana cultivated standard pulse stocks and traditional paddy varieties. However, overall farm income generation remained static because the resulting crop output was strictly liquidated as raw grain for daily consumption markets. Recognizing the need for structural change, she sought technical guidance from agricultural scientists at Malda KVK and the local Department of Agriculture. Shifting her focus entirely to dedicated Blackgram seed production (Variety: IPU-02-43), she underwent comprehensive agronomic training to adopt scientific, high-efficiency multiplication techniques.
Financial Growth & Production Achievements
Initial B:C Ratio
Expanded B:C Ratio
Peak Output Max
Certified Selling Price
- Phase I Trials (0.26 ha): Successfully produced 420 kg of seed stock during combined Kharif/Rabi cycles. Total operational costs stood at ₹12,220 with a total income generation of ₹29,760 (B:C Ratio of 1:2.43).
- Commercial Expansion (0.52 ha): Scaled farm field operations to yield 760 kg of prime seed stock. While inputs rose marginally to ₹19,180, total net income returns expanded exponentially to text-highlight: ₹91,200, driving a premium B:C performance ratio of 1:4.75.
Community Scale & Seed Bank Impact
- Inspirational Footprint: Directly inspired and guided 24 frontline farmers across the district to switch to seed cultivation across 3 additional hectares.
- Volume Yields: Monitored the local production of 20 quintals of high-quality hybrid seeds across two target calendar years. This stock supplied seed requirements across 20 hectares, generating 228 quintals of final farm produce.
- Village Seed Bank: Facilitated the construction of a self-sustaining regional village seed bank, securing high-quality seed access for local growers.
“Thanks to the scientific training and regular guidance from Malda KVK, I have been able to significantly enhance both my seasonal crop yield and overall household profit margin.”
— Ms. Alpana Chowdhury, Progressive Seed Producer