Ecosystem and Aquatic Biodiversity

Nature and agriculture are deeply intertwined. Not only does rice grow in the farmlands of rural Bengal, but a self-sufficient ecosystem of its own regularly develops there. The image of a snake floating in the murky water of a rice field in the collected images is a living example of that natural diversity.

When water accumulates in the rice field due to monsoon or irrigation, small fish, frogs and various insects arrive there. Such aquatic snakes become one of the most important parts of this food chain. They are usually non-venomous and calm in nature. They look for prey by raising their heads in the calm water between seedlings and protect the crops by eating insects and rats harmful to rice. However, currently, due to the use of excessive chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides, the habitat and existence of these useful animals are facing a crisis. It is very important to keep the food chain of the environment active and to sustain them as friends of farmers. This small world of water in the rice fields not only enhances the beauty of rural Bengal, but also conveys an essential message of sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.