Media Coverage - soumodip18/Mul_Biotech_Farms_Ecosystem GitHub Wiki

Media Coverage

Overview

The Mul Biotech Farms ecosystem has received coverage across agricultural, sustainability, climate, entrepreneurship, and regional media platforms. Media visibility has primarily focused on regenerative agriculture, aquaponics, agroforestry, environmental monitoring, climate-resilient farming systems, and rural innovation initiatives.

Media engagement forms part of the ecosystem's broader objective of promoting sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, climate adaptation, and technology-enabled farming systems.

Coverage Areas

Agriculture

Topics covered include:

  • Regenerative Agriculture
  • Aquaponics
  • Hydroponics
  • Integrated Farming Systems
  • Sustainable Agriculture
  • Controlled Environment Agriculture

Climate & Sustainability

Coverage has highlighted:

  • Climate Resilience
  • Carbon Farming
  • Ecological Restoration
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Sustainable Development
  • Nature-Based Solutions

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Topics include:

  • Agritech Innovation
  • Rural Enterprise Development
  • Digital Agriculture
  • Agri-GIS Systems
  • Agricultural Infrastructure
  • Climate Technology

Major Coverage Themes

Aquaponics Awareness

Media coverage has documented awareness initiatives, demonstrations, and educational activities related to aquaponics and integrated farming systems.

Key themes:

  • Water-efficient food production
  • Fish and plant integration
  • Circular farming systems
  • Climate-smart agriculture

Agroforestry & Biological Assets

Coverage has highlighted long-term biological asset creation through:

  • Agroforestry
  • Agarwood Systems
  • Sandalwood Systems
  • Plantation Development
  • Climate Forestry

Climate-Smart Agriculture

Public communications have focused on:

  • Sustainable production systems
  • Resource optimization
  • Environmental stewardship
  • Climate adaptation strategies

Digital Agriculture

Coverage has included initiatives related to:

  • GIS Applications
  • Environmental Intelligence
  • Agricultural Monitoring
  • Spatial Analytics
  • Climate Data Systems

Public Visibility

The ecosystem maintains visibility through:

News Media

Coverage across regional and national media outlets.

Digital Publications

Technical articles, reports, case studies, and sustainability content.

Professional Networks

Participation in agriculture, climate, sustainability, and innovation communities.

Educational Outreach

Workshops, training programs, awareness sessions, and stakeholder engagement activities.

Institutional Communications

Media visibility has been supported through:

  • Government-linked workshops
  • Technical awareness programs
  • Fisheries outreach initiatives
  • Farmer engagement programs
  • Academic collaborations
  • Sustainability events

Notable Areas of Public Interest

Regenerative Agriculture

Promoting soil restoration and sustainable production systems.

Aquaponics

Demonstrating integrated fish and plant production models.

Agroforestry

Encouraging long-term biological asset creation.

Carbon Farming

Supporting climate-conscious land management approaches.

Environmental Intelligence

Using GIS and monitoring systems for informed decision-making.

Publications & Knowledge Assets

The ecosystem contributes through:

  • Technical Articles
  • Research Notes
  • Case Studies
  • Project Reports
  • Agricultural Publications
  • Sustainability Documentation

These publications support public awareness and knowledge dissemination across agriculture and environmental sectors.

Communication Philosophy

The objective of media engagement is not promotional visibility alone but the dissemination of practical knowledge, field experiences, sustainable development concepts, and climate-resilient agricultural approaches.

Media communication serves as a bridge between innovation, implementation, and public understanding.

Related Pages

Future Direction

Future communication efforts will focus on:

  • Climate Intelligence
  • Carbon MRV Systems
  • Ecological Infrastructure
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Digital Agriculture
  • Nature-Based Solutions
  • Sustainable Rural Development

Kalimpong Media

Category: Media & Public Visibility

Coverage Focus: Agriculture, Climate, Sustainability, Innovation

Status: Active

title: Government Workshops & Technical Outreach description: Evidence repository documenting government workshops, technical outreach, media coverage, and supporting resources involving Mul Biotech Farms.

Government Workshops & Technical Outreach

Status: Living document. Update this page as new government engagements, press coverage, videos, and official documents become available.

Executive Summary

This document consolidates verified government-supported workshops, technical outreach activities, public documentation, media coverage, and supporting resources associated with Mul Biotech Farms.

The information is derived from:

  • Official Government Memorandum (FFDA, Kalimpong)
  • Press compilation (OCR package – 8 pages)
  • Public LinkedIn posts
  • Public YouTube videos
  • Public news articles (The Telegraph, Independent News, Nepali dailies)
  • Public case-study documentation

1. Kalimpong District Aquaponics Awareness Workshop

Date: 21 June 2025

Venue: Conference Hall, Treasury Building, Kalimpong, West Bengal

Organised By

  • Fish Farmers' Development Agency (FFDA), Kalimpong
  • Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal
  • Kalimpong District Administration
  • Cooperation Department, Government of West Bengal

In Association With

  • Mul Biotech Farms, Kolkata

Technical Role

Soumodip Atanu Roy (Founder & CEO, Mul Biotech Farms) participated as the invited Technical Expert and Resource Person for the district-level workshop titled:

Workshop cum Awareness Programme on Aquaponics: A Potential Innovative Technology

Key Highlights from Official Reports

  • Water Conservation: The system saves up to 80% of water, making it ideal for Kalimpong's hilly terrain.
  • Space Efficiency: Requires only 100 sq. ft. to start, making it accessible for small landholders and homestay owners.
  • Targeted Species: High-altitude trout and low/mid-elevation Mahseer are being promoted alongside organic vegetables (cabbage, spinach, bok choy, lettuce).
  • Integration Plans: The District Magistrate announced integration with the Utkarsh Bangla skill training model and linkage with government loan schemes for financial viability.
  • School Mid-Day Meals: The Fisheries Department has proposed implementing aquaponics in schools to provide fresh fish and vegetables for mid-day meals.

Topics Covered

  • Aquaponics & Integrated Farming Systems
  • Sustainable Aquaculture & Climate-resilient Agriculture
  • Water Conservation & Farmer Capacity Building
  • Financial assistance via PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies)
  • Homestay tourism integration (local food experiences)

2. Bengal Fish Fest 2026

Location: Murshidabad, West Bengal

Organised By

Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal

Role

Mul Biotech Farms participated with a technical demonstration on aquaponics and integrated farming systems and interacted with farmers and stakeholders.

Supporting Links

3. OCR Document Archive (Full Transcripts)

The following are verbatim transcripts extracted from the official press compilation PDF (8 pages). Minor OCR artifacts (e.g., WrkshpmwrenPrgrmnAqanis) have been preserved for authenticity.

Page 1: Official Government Invitation Memorandum

Memo No. 43/1(3)/FFDA/Kpg. Date: 17/06/2025

To:

  1. The District Magistrate, Kalimpong
  2. The Addl. District Magistrate (L&L/R/Gen./Dev.)
  3. The District Officer in charge, Tourism, Kalimpong
  4. The District Officer in charge, PBSSD, Kalimpong
  5. The District Officer in charge, Environment, Kalimpong
  6. The Deputy Director of Agriculture (Admin), Kalimpong
  7. The District Horticulture Officer, Kalimpong
  8. The District Inspector of School, Kalimpong/Secondary
  9. The Assistant Director of Fisheries, Kalimpong
  10. The Assistant Register of Co-op Societies, Kalimpong & Cooperative Dev. Officer, Kalimpong
  11. Dr Varun Kr. Pandey, Agri. Expert & Sri Aswini Hati, Fishery Expert, DPU, WBADMIP, Kalimpong
  12. The Representative/ Members of PACs, FPGs, Homestay owners, Kalimpong.

Sub: Workshop cum Awareness Programme on Aquaponics: A Potential Innovative Technology in Agri-Horti-Aquaculture-Environment-Tourism-Cooperative & Education sectors of Hill Ecosystem

Sir,

As we are focused towards reducing water footprint and ensuring quality education sectors will integrate or converge to form holistic approach in the context of rural development as well as environmental sustainability, blending of traditional culture with cutting edge technology for smarter farming in Kalimpong District with its diverse ecosystem.

In view of this, we are going to organize Workshop cum Awareness Programme on Aquaponics: A Potential Innovative Technology – aiming to build capacity in the following key areas in association with Mul Biotech Farms, Kolkata:

  • Adoption of Technology and practices with the motto of sustainable development and environment friendly at community level.
  • Priority to water conservation and space saving organic integrated eco farming.
  • Food security in every household at grassroots level.
  • Scalability and Flexibility to beneficiaries.
  • Educational opportunities as well as employment generation facilities.
  • Financial support/assistance by PACS for their baseline members.
  • To meet up the tourists' demand of local food/floor experience at Homestay.

The programme has been scheduled to be held on 21/06/2025 at 11:30 am in the Conference Hall, Treasury Building, Kalimpong.

In this regard, Sri Soumodip Atanu Roy, Established Farm & Agri-Land developer and Founder & CEO, Mul Biotech Farms, Kolkata will impart training in the "Workshop cum Awareness Programme on Aquaponics: A Potential Innovative Technology" to the concerned stakeholders.

You, all are requested to kindly make it convenient to attend the same on given date, time and venue. Your presence is highly solicited.

Copy forwarded for information to:

  1. The NDC, Kalimpong, with a request to keep the Conference Hall ready with provision for refreshment.
  2. Sri Soumodip Atanu Roy, Founder and CEO, Mul Biotech Farms, Kolkata, with a request to impart training in Awareness Programme on aforesaid subject matter.
  3. Office copy.

Page 3: Nepali Press Coverage – Article 1

(Translated context: Coverage of the awareness program, mentioning the collaboration between the Fisheries Department, Cooperative Department, and District Administration. Highlights the presence of DM Balasubramanian T., ADM Sumiran Mandal, and Soumodip Atanu Roy explaining aquaponics.)

कालेवुड, २१ जून। कालेवुड जिह्वामा एकापोनिक्स खेती प्रणालीलाई समावेश गर्ने उद्देश्यले आज एक सचेतना कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न गरियो। कार्यक्रम मत्स्य पालन विभागको आयोजनामा, सहकारी विभागको सह-आयोजनामा र जिह्वा प्रशासनको सहयोगमा कालेवुड ट्रेजरीस्थित सम्मेलन हलमा सम्पन्न भयो।

एकापोनिक्स यस्तो खेती प्रणाली हो जसमा माछा पालन (एकाकल्चर) र माटो बिना खेती (हाइड्रोपोनिक्स) गरिन्छ। यस प्रणालीमा माछाले उत्पादन गर्ने फोहोर बोट-बिस्वाको लागि पोषक तत्व बन्छ भने बोट-बिस्वाले पानीलाई स्वच्छ बनाउने कार्य गर्दछ जसले स्वपोषित प्रणाली निर्माण गर्छ।

कार्यक्रममा जिह्वाका विभिन्न भागबाट कृषकहरू, विभिन्न विभागका अधिकारीहरू तथा कोलकातास्थित मूल बायोटिक्स फर्मका स्रोत व्यक्ति सौम्यदीप अतानु रायको उपस्थिति रहेको थियो। उनले एकापोनिक्स खेतीका विविध पक्षबारे विस्तृत जानकारी दिए। कालेबुडको मौसम, जलवायु अनि भूगोल एकापोनिक्सको लागि अनुकूल भएको उनले स्पष्ट पारे।

कार्यक्रममा जिल्ला अधिकारी बालसुब्रह्मण्यम टी, एडीएम सुमिरन मण्डल, भूमि अधिग्रहण अधिकारी प्रितम लिम्बु, बीडीओ सिमरूल इस्लाम, पञ्चायत सिमित सभापति ममता गुरुङ, मत्स्य पालन अधिकारी सुमन्ता बिस्वास, मत्स्य अधिकारी सुशान्त कार्की लगायतको उपस्थिति थियो।

सभापश्चात डीएम बालसुब्रह्मण्यम टीले भने, "जिह्वा प्रशासन र मत्स्य पालन विभागले पहाडको स्थानीय माछा जातको संरक्षणका लागि विभिन्न पहलहरू शुरू गरिरहेको छ। एकापोनिक्स खेतीलाई उत्कर्ष बंगला कार्यक्रममा समेटेर कृषकहरूलाई तालिम दिने योजना अघि सारिएको छ।"

Page 4: Nepali Press Coverage – Article 2 (भारतको पहिलो रहीन नेपाली/गोखा दैनिक)

अक्रापोनिक्स सम्बन्धी कार्यशाला तथा जनचेतनामूलक कार्यक्रम

कालेवाडू, २१ जून (निम्न): अक्रापोनिक्ससम्बन्धी एक विशेष कार्यशाला तथा जनचेतनामूलक कार्यक्रम शनिबार सकलतापूर्वक सम्पन्न भएको छ। ट्रेजरी हलमा सम्पन्न उक्त कार्यक्रम आधुनिक तथा वातावरणमैत्री कृषि प्रविधिको रूपमा उदाउँदै गरेको अक्रापोनिक्स प्रणालीबारे स्थानीय कृषकहरूलाई अवगत गराउने उद्देश्यले आयोजना गरिएको बताइएको छ।

उक्त कार्यक्रममा कालेवुड जिह्वापाल बालासुब्रह्मण्यम टी, एडीएम (जी) समिरन मण्डल, भूमि अधिग्रहण अधिकृत प्रितम लिम्बु, कालेवुड-१ विकास खण्ड अधिकारी समिक्ल इस्लाम तथा कालेवुड-१ पश्चायत समिति समापति ममता गुरुङको विशेष उपस्थिति रहेको थियो।

कार्यक्रम कालेवुड जिल्ला प्रशासन, मत्स्य विभाग तथा सहकारी विभागको संयुक्त रूपमा आयोजना गरिएको थियो। कोलकातास्थित मूल बायोटेक फार्मसका प्रतिनिधिले विशेष जानकारी दिँदै, अक्रापोनिक्स प्रविधि कार्यान्वयनका लागि उपयोगी नमूना र प्रविधिहरू प्रस्तुत गरे।

जिह्वापाल बालासुब्रह्मण्यम टीले पत्रकारहरूसँग कुरा गर्दै पहाडी क्षेत्रका मौलिक माछाका प्रजातिको संरक्षण अल्पन्त जरूरी रहेको बताए। उनले यस्ता तालिमहरूलाई उत्कर्ष बंगला प्रशिक्षण मोडेलसँग एकीकृत गरेर दीर्घकालीन दिगोपनता सुनिश्चित गरिने बताए। सरकारी ऋण योजनासँग जोड्ने पहल भइरहेको जानकारी पनि दिए।

Page 5: Independent English Press

Kalimpong practices aquaponics to preserve fish species of hill region

By YOWANMOTHAY

KALIMPONG, JUNE 21 – A workshop-cum-awareness programme focusing on aquaponics, an emerging and sustainable agricultural technique, was conducted on Saturday in Kalimpong. The event was aimed to inform and educate local farmers about integrated farming systems that combined fish rearing with crop cultivation.

Jointly organized by the Kalimpong District Administration and the West Bengal Fisheries Department and Cooperation Departments, the workshop served as an interactive platform for farmers. Experts provided detailed information on aquaponics, fish farming, and other sustainable farming practices.

Farmers had the opportunity to share their queries and concerns directly with the officials, who responded with in-depth explanations and guidance.

A special presentation was made by representatives from Kolkata-based MUL Biotech Farms, showcasing creative models and technologies for efficient aquaponics implementation.

Talking to newspapers, District Magistrate Balasubramanian T. emphasized the importance of conserving native fish species of the hill region. He mentioned that extensive efforts were underway to protect and promote local aquatic biodiversity, integrating it into the Utkarsh Bangla Training Model to ensure long-term sustainability.

The District Magistrate also highlighted the initiative to link the aquaponics programme with government loan schemes, making it more accessible and financially viable for local farmers. He added that profitable fish cultivation could significantly transform into a sustainable livelihood option for the farming community.

Page 6: Newspaper Banner / Masthead

(OCR capture of the publication banner – identifies "Issue: 13, 24th JUNE 2025" – likely Krishi Karma Weekly)

Short on time? Try Generative summary

Issue :13: 24th JUNE 2025: 28C1 8.1. 2026 (Note: OCR anomaly, actual date is June 24, 2025)

Page 7: The Telegraph – Print Edition (Full Article)

Kalimpong raises fish to farm crops

By BINITA PAUL

Siliguri: The Kalimpong district administration is promoting aquaponics farming as a practical solution to the region's water scarcity, keeping in mind rural livelihoods and nutritional needs.

The initiative, led by the district fisheries department, is now gaining momentum with institutional support and a broader vision for integration across homestays, schools and farmlands.

Aquaponics is a sustainable farming method that fuses aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soil-less plant cultivation) in a closed-loop system.

Sumanta Kumar Biswas, the district fisheries officer of Kalimpong, said that as there was an urgency to conserve water in Kalimpong, aquaponics was a game-changer.

"With this method, we can save up to 80 per cent of water. It is especially suitable for Kalimpong's conditions, where water is limited but there is immense potential for cultivating local vegetables and indigenous fish such as trout in high altitudes and Mahseer in low to mid-elevation areas," he said.

Biswas said that the integrated farming system allows farmers to grow crops like cabbage, spinach, bok choy and lettuce organically, while simultaneously rearing fish.

"Only 100 square feet is required to begin aquaponics. This makes it ideal for small landholders and even the homestay owners," the official added.

He also stated that they have invited homestay operators to consider setting up aquaponics units.

"Tourists, especially Bengali visitors, enjoy local fish, so this is a strong income opportunity. Our department also invited the district education officer to propose the implementation of aquaponics in schools for mid-day meals," he said.

The new concept of farming could provide both fish and organic vegetables to schoolchildren, improving their nutrition and reducing the dependency of schools on external supplies.

"There are around 1,500 registered fishery farmers in the district, and we believe over 1,000 would soon adopt aquaponics," said Biswas.

Aquaponics, experts said, works by circulating nutrient-rich water from fish tanks to hydroponic grow beds, where plants absorb the nutrients and clean the water, which is then re-circulated.

"This closed-loop system drastically cuts down water usage and eliminates the need for synthetic fertilisers. It supports both fish and vegetable production simultaneously, offers high yield with minimal ecological footprint," said an expert.

To build awareness and technical capacity, a district-level workshop-cum-awareness programme was organised in Kalimpong on June 21.

"The event saw wide participation from local farmers amid the presence of senior officials," said sources.

T. Balasubramanian, the district magistrate of Kalimpong, said the initiative was more than an experiment.

"We are trying to integrate aquaponics with the Utkarsh Bangla skill training model. We also plan to link aquaponics with government loan schemes so that it becomes accessible and economically viable for every farmer," said the district magistrate.

Page 8: The Telegraph ePaper

The Telegraph ePaper

FRONT PAGE | FOREIGN | NATION | STATE | METRO

Calcutta Edition | Page 6

Sunday, 29 Jun, 2025

Kalimpong rears fish to raise crops

By BINITA PAUL

Siliguri: The Kalimpong district administration is promoting aquaponics as a practical solution to combat the region's water scarcity while keeping in mind rural livelihoods and nutritional needs.

A progressive and sustainable farming method, aquaponics fuses aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soil-less plant cultivation) in an integrated system.

The district fisheries department seeks to introduce aquaponics in homestays, schools and farmlands.

Sumanta Kumar Biswas, the district fisheries officer, said aquaponics was a game-changer as there was urgency to conserve water in the hilly district.

"With this method, we can save up to 80 per cent of water. It is most suitable for Kalimpong, where water is limited but there is immense potential for farming vegetables and fish such as trout and mahseer," he said.

Biswas said the integrated farming system allowed farmers to grow crops like cabbage, spinach, bok choy and lettuce organically, while simultaneously rearing fish.

"Only 100 sq ft is required to begin aquaponics, making it ideal for small landholders and even the homestay owners," the official said.

"Tourists, especially Bengalis, enjoy tasting local fish, so this is a strong income opportunity. Our department is also proposing aquaponics in schools for midday meals."

A district-level workshop-cum-awareness programme on aquaponics was held in Kalimpong on June 21.

District magistrate T. Balasubramanian said they were trying to integrate aquaponics with the Utkarsh Bangla skill training model.

Media Coverage (Updated Summary)

  • The Telegraph India (Print & ePaper) – By Binita Paul (June 24 & June 29, 2025). Covers water savings (80%), 100 sq. ft. requirement, and integration with schools/homestays.
  • Independent News – By Yowanmothay (June 21, 2025). Focus on preserving native fish species and Utkarsh Bangla integration.
  • Himalaya Darpan (Nepali Daily) – Regional coverage (Page 3).
  • Regional Nepali Newspaper (भारतको पहिलो रहीन नेपाली/गोखा दैनिक) – Page 4 coverage.
  • Krishi Karma Weekly – Issue dated June 24, 2025 (Page 6 banner).

Supporting Documentation & Links

Evidence Index (Updated)

Document / Source Page(s) in OCR Status
Official FFDA Memorandum (Memo No. 43/1(3)/FFDA/Kpg) 1 Archived
Nepali Press Coverage – Article 1 3 Archived
Nepali Press Coverage – Article 2 (Daily) 4 Archived
Independent News (Yowanmothay) 5 Archived
Krishi Karma Weekly Banner 6 Archived
The Telegraph – Print Edition (Binita Paul) 7 Archived
The Telegraph – ePaper (Binita Paul) 8 Archived
LinkedIn Documentation - Linked
YouTube Documentation - Linked
OCR

_Last updated: July 2026