Bengal Leads in Horticulture

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


In the 10 year period from 2001 to 2010, India has increased its production of horticultural products from 145.8 million tonnes to 240 million tonnes. This increase is more than the increase in area under cultivation of these crops, indicating an increase in productivity.

West Bengal leads all the states by producing 13% of overall production of horticultural crops. It produces about 30 million tonnes of horticultural products with accounting for more than one thirds (34%) of total flower production of the country and 3.85 million tonnes of fruits.

Endowed with five agro-climatic regions, West Bengal has the potential to be the food bowl of India. The recent impetus given to horticulture and food processing industries by the new government shows this intent.


Support for horticulture

12,900 farmers have received assistance for paying premium on crop insurance and 15 more products like chilli, mango, tomato etc. have been brought under its ambit. Farmers have been encouraged to opt for horticulture and this has led to increase of 15,611 hectare area under fruit cultivation, 1,609 hectare area under vegetable cultivation and 3,631 hectare area under flower cultivation, in past 34 months.


Encouraging scientific cultivation

Along with taking initiative for Tissue culture, grants have been awarded for Poly House and Shed Net House methods of cultivation which advocate better guarding of horticulture products during cultivation. Financial assistance has been provided to 2,857 farmers engaged in horticulture to buy equipment like tractor, power tillers, pump sets etc.


Achieving self dependence for Onions

To safeguard the residents from sudden price rise of Onions, a special initiative has been undertaken to achieve self dependence in Onions. This year Agrifound Dark Red species of onion has been cultivated in 303 hectares of land in Kharif season and an increase of 500 hectares of Agrifound light red species of onion cultivation has been witnessed in Ravi season.


Empowering our farmers

7 Krisak Utpadak Sangstha or Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been formed in 7 different districts with strength of total 8,500 farmers. The main aim of these organizations is to eliminate middlemen from the process of marketing of the produce. Along with a Tissue Culture Laboratory at Ayespur, five Technology Extension Centres are being set up at different districts. Five dedicated horticulture markets are also being constructed in various districts. Agrihorti Food Fest was organized and 384 farmers were trained to apply technology in horticulture.


Developments in Food Processing

In just 34 months, 38 new food processing industries have been set up with an investment of Rs 312 crore. A modern slaughter house has been constructed with an investment of Rs 28.45 crore in Tangra. Also, yearly production capacity of grain mills has now increased by 2.4 lakh metric tons. These developments have resulted in generation of employment to the tune of 7.84 man days.


Encouraging entrepreneurs

Around 112 entrepreneurs have received training through 7 food-processing training cum production centers with another 238 undergoing the training. Financial grants, ranging from Rs 4 lakh for organizing a seminar to Rs 75 lakh for setting up a food processing centre, are being offered to encourage entrepreneurs so that they can come forward in the field of food processing. Additional grant of Rs 5 lakh has been given for construction of rice mill to 165 blocks which do not have a rice mill.


Apart from the above steps there has been a conscious and consistent effort from government’s side to establish and maintain better coordination between work related to development of horticulture and MNREGA scheme. For this effort, Bankura district, along with 8 other districts, has received a National Award.

The Government has also kept the interests of the common man in mind, as it has provided necessary financial assistance for the sale of onions, potatoes and vegetables through fair price shops.

Fisheries & Animal Resources Development

Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


The Fisheries Department of the the Government of Bengal was first set up in the year 1911. Thereafter, on the recommendation of the Bengal Retrenchment Committee, the Department was abolished in the year 1923. The Department was again revived in the year 1942 as it was felt necessary to cope up with the growing needs for increase in production of fish by way of exploiting all the available impounded water resources in the then undivided Bengal primarily for two reasons: - (1) Love of fish in the diet for every Bengali family; (2) Increase in population.

Most of the poor people in rural areas of the State are dependent on mixed crop-livestock farming system for their livelihood. Animal Resources Development Department thus plays a major role in supplementing family income and generating gainful employment in the villages, particularly among the landless laborers, small and marginal farmers and especially women. The significance of the livestock sector in the economy of our State can be judged from the fact that it contributes 4.41% of the total SDP & 18.6% of the agricultural SDP.


Significant work has been done in both departments in the last 34 months

Special Assistance to the people living below poverty line: 1.7 crores poultry-chicks, 22,300 goats and 400 pigs have been distributed among the 3.6 lakh families living below the poverty line.

Health services for livestock and chicks: 3.77 crore chicks, ducks and livestock have been brought under the Animal Health Services and the vaccination of 4.97 crore livestock, chicks and ducks have been completed and also 30, 017 animal health camps have been organized.


Increase in production, preservation of milk and milk-product

• 18 milk chilling machines, having a capacity of 19,500 liters, have been purchased with an expenditure of rupees 75.25 lakh

• 3.05 lakh liters of milk (produced 2.6 lakh liters of milk in previous years ) was collected and rupees 488 crores have been earned through animal farm

• The reconstruction of the State Dairy has begun in Burdwan


Self-employment Scheme: Mother Dairy has engaged 2560 unemployed youths in self-employment schemes.

Live-stock Insurance: Insurance coverage at the cost of rupees 100.91 crores has been provided to 3.15 lakh of livestock and 2.5 lakh of heifer of hybrid variety. Nutritious fodder, medicine and vaccination were provided to them.

Fish for all, and fisheries in every water bodies: To conserve the native species of fishes and spawning of those species in inland water-bodies, fisheries are exercised in 212 water bodies.

Developed spawns: To develop the quality of fingerlings, steps have been taken through all spawn producing organizations. 77 lakh fingerlings had been released in large water-bodies under Social Fishery Scheme.

Conservation of Hilsa and Research Laboratory: To increase the number of Hilsa, a conservation and research laboratory had been established at Diamond Harbour

Loan to Fishermen in easy terms: Scientific fisheries have been started in 3369 hectare water bodies and loans in easy terms have been arranged under FFDA scheme.

Amendment in law to save water bodies: To save the water-bodies, the concerned law has been amended and that law is now being applied in rural panchayat area.

Old-age pension of the Fishermen: 7500 aged and disabled fishermen are getting rupees 1000 per month as old-age pension.

Bio-metric identity cards to sea-bound fishermen: 2.59 lakh sea-bound fishermen are benefiting under this scheme.