Horticulture of West bengal

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Horticulture of West bengal

With a production of 26.68 m. MT of horticulture produce from an area of 1.78 m. ha., West Bengal is the largest producer of horticultural crops  accounting for 9.6% of total horticultural production in the country.

The major horticulture produce comprises vegetables (86.4%). The State produces 23.04 m. MT of vegetables from an area of 1.38 m. ha. with the productivity of 16.7 t/ha.  Production of fruits comprises 10.9 % of total production of horticultural crops in the State.Horticulture of West bengal

FRUITS

Banana

  • West Bengal accounts for 3.7% of total banana production in the country. The State produces 1.10 m. MT of banana from an area of 0.05 m. ha. with the productivity of 24 t/ha.
  • The production of banana is concentrated in the regions of Murshidabad, Burdwan, Hoogly, North and South 24 Paraganas, Nadiya, Bankura, North and South Dinajpur, Birbhum, Cooch Behar, Midnapore, Jalpaiguri and Malda.
  • Banana cultivars grown in the state are Dwarf Cavendish, Grand Naine, Rasthali and Monthan.
  • During 2015-16, 2.90 lakh MT of banana have been traded in organized markets with average price of Rs. 15.97/ Kg.

Guava

  • West Bengal is the fifth largest producer of guava and accounts for 5.1% of total production of guava in the country.
  • State produces about 0.19 m Mt of guava from an area of 0.014 m ha. with the productivity of 13.0 MT/ha.
  • Main cultivars of guava recommended for the state are sardar (1-49), Allahabad Safeda, Lalit and Shweta.
  • Production of guava is concentrated in the belts of Nadia, 24 Parganas Birbhum, Midnapore, Purlia, Bankura and Bardhamam.
  • During 2013-14, 1398 MT of guava have been traded in organized markets with average price of Rs. 49.79/ Kg.

Mango

  • West Bengal accounts for 2.3% of total production of mango in the country. The State produces 0.43 m. MT of mango from an area of 0.09 m. ha. with the productivity of 4.6 t/ha.
  • The major mango producing belts in the State are Malda, Murshidabad, 24 Parganas, Midnapore, Purlia, Bankura, Birbhum, Hoogly, Hawara, Nadia and North & South Dinajpore
  • Commercial mango varieties grown in the State Fazli, Gulabkhas, Himsagar, Kishenbhog, Langra and Bombay Green, Zardalu, Amarpali, Pusa Arunima, Surya..
  • During 2013-14, 3230 MT of mango have been traded in organized markets with average price of Rs. 37.30/ Kg.

Papaya

  • West Bengal is the sixth largest producer of papaya and accounts for 5.9% of the total production of papaya in the country.
  • The State produces 0.34 m. MT of papaya from an area of 0.01 m. ha. with the productivity of 29.4 t/ha.
  • The major papaya producing belts in the State are North 24-Paraganas, Hoogly, Jalpaiguri, Bardhwan, Murshidabad, Nadia, Bankura, Purlia and Midnapore.
  • Varieties of papaya viz. Coorg Honey Dew, Pink Flesh Sweet, Sunrise Solo and Taiwan have been recommended for the state.

 

 

VEGETABLES

Brinjal

  • West Bengal is the leader in production of brinjal and accounts for 23.0 of total production of brinjal in the country
  • . The State produces about 2.98 m. MT of brinjal from an area of 0.16 m. ha. with the productivity of 18.4 t/ha.
  • The major brinjal producing belts in the State are 24-Paraganas Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Nadia Murshidabad and Malda.

Cabbage

  • West Bengal is the leader in production of cabbage and accounts for 24.0% of total production of cabbage in the country.
  • The State produces about 2.20 m. MT of cabbage from an area of 0.08 m. ha. with productivity of 28 t/ha.which is at par with Odisha.
  • Production of cabbage is concentrated in the belts of West Madinapur, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Nadia and Murshidabad.
  • Varieties of cabbage recommended in the state are Pusa Ageti, Pusa Drum Head, Golden Acre and Pusa Mukta.

Cauliflower 

  • West Bengal is the leader in production of cauliflower and accounts for 22.0% of total production of cauliflower in the country.
  • The State produces about 1.88 m. MT of cauliflower with an area of 0.07 m. ha. with the productivity of 25.5 t/ha. which is the second highest after Madhya Pradesh.
  • Production of cauliflower is concentrated in the belts of West Mednapur, Bankura, Nadia, Murshidabad, North & South 24 Parganas

 

 

Initiatives undertaken by the West Bengal Government in these sectors in the last three years:

  • During the tenure of the present government, more than 15,000 hectares are brought under fruit cultivation. The area brought under vegetable cultivation and flower cultivation stands at 1609 and 3631 respectively.
  • Weather based crop insurance has been rolled out with 50% government grant. 15 products are been brought under this scheme.
  • Nearly 40 food processing plants have been set up in the last three years with a cost of more than 300 crore.
  • The production capacity of rice mills have been enhanced by almost 4 lakh MT and for grain mills by almost 2.5 lakh MT. As a result additional capacity 8 lakh man-days of work is made possible.
  • The government has passed West Bengal Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) (Amendment) Bill 2014. Companies involved with food processing can now directly purchase the raw materials from the farmers thus ensuring no cost for middlemen, greater transparency, and greater ease of doing business, and a better price for farmers.
  • The state intends to set up Krishak Bazars , where farmers can sell the products directly this ensuring better prices.
  • A hi-tech food preservation institute is being set up at Malda.
  • The government has taken steps to curb down the menace of middleman and results are visible. Farmers are getting better prices in the whole sale market, while inflation in the retail market is checked through fair price shops, regular checks and etc.
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