Agriculture scenario in North Bengal

Brand crops of North Bengal :

Aromatic Rice (Tulaipanji, Kalo
nunia), Darjeeling Tea, Pineapple,
Mango, Litchi, Orchids
Rich Agricultural Basket in North Bengal:
Rice, Jute,
Agro-Climatic Potato,
Zones of Maize, Vegetables
North
ZoneBengal District
Northern Darjeeling Cropping intensity: 192 %
Hill Zone Irrigated land: 35.25 %
Terai- Coochbehar, Fallow land: 5%
Teesta Jalpaiguri, Number of cold storage: 57
Alluvial Uttar Dinajpur Agricultural land: 14,94,110 ha
Zone Non agricultural land: 3,12,620 (20%)
Vindhyan Dakshin pH: 4.6 to 6.6
 Horticulture in North Bengal
Darjeeling district is the ace producer
of Gladiolus in West Bengal and West
Bengal ranks first in cut flower
production in India contributing 27% of
the total production in the country
(NHB Database, 2015).

Darjeeling Hill region is famous for

Mandarin Orange, Large Cardamom
and Ginger. Black pepper is important
in Coochbehar, Alipurduar, and
Jalpaiguri districts.
 Minimum support price of
different crops (2016-17) Socio-economic
profile
Farmers North India %
Crops Variety Rs/quintal Bengal
Paddy Common 1470 Annual 48195 7788 38.12
Grade A 1510 income 8 (GAP)
Maize 1365 Marginal 73% 67.1 108
Wheat 1625 famers 0
Jute 00 3200 Numbers 20 1180 1.7
of
farmers
Agricultural export Zone in (lakh)
North Bengal Agro 40 58,8 0.067
Pineapple Litchi Mango Darjeeling industry
Tea 29
regulated 16 2404 0.66
Darjeeling Malda Malda Darjeeling
markets
Jalpaiguri,
Uttar Agricultu 14.94 1590 0.93
Dinajpur re land
Cooch ( lakh ha)
Behar State Out migrants
Migrati North Bengal 10-12%
Potato production scenario of North
Bengal in 2017
Area: 31,000 ha
Production: 9 lakh
metric ton
Cold storage: 19
Total storage
capacity: 2, 29, 000
Area: 26,000 ha metric ton
Production: 6
lakh metric ton
Cold storage: 6
Total storage Area: 32,000 ha
capacity: 60 Production: 10
thousand metric lakh metric ton
ton Cold storage: 12
Total storage
capacity: 2 lakh
Area: 9,000 ha metric ton
Production: 3.5
lakh metric ton
Cold storage: 5
Total storage
capacity: 40
thousand metric
ton
 SWOT
analysis
th a nd
e ng ourc
e s
Str u ma n res
c e h e s ces
d a n r c u r c
A bun al resou ical reso f aquati
r g o
natu se biolo ailable Opp
D iv e r
e l y a v
ce s ortu
nsiv act i n in N nit
x te p r si o ea y
E iches p p i ng e x pa n rly 6
8
n e cro ontal s a goo 341 h
l ti p l r i z ti ve d resou a fallo
u h o r n a cr op d rce t w lan
M ope for e od a l t e
S iv ersif o i ni d ma
S c ul t ur el ih o u itabl ic ation ti at e de y be
g r i c l iv sired
a
r si f ied poul e clima prog
r a
D ive try f
a r
tic co
n
mme
High ming ditio
pote n for
inten ntial
V s i ty to to in
alue 250 crea
a % se cr
P d ded p oppi
romo rodu ng
C tion ct de
a pa c o f fodd velop
ity b er cu men
uildi lt iv t
ng o a tion
f rur
al y o
uth
 nes s
Weak r u c ture
Threats
infr a s t
rk e t in g p ort
o f m a e s u p
Lack in te l l igenc High dependency of chemical
d m a r k et c ility fertilizer
an tora g e fa
e q u a t e s
o f s m all Lack of interest among young
Inad c e n t r a tion to
ig h c o n ld in g s farmer
Very h t e d l a ndho
f r a g m en a r ds Migration
a n d r d l e t o w
u se b ig hu v e d and
ca f i m p r o Imperfect market facilities
n o
adoptio ed farming Livelihood opportunity index
h a n iz c ili ty
mec r i g a t i o n fa 0.474
q u a te ir
Inad e I C Ts
e u s e o f Human poverty index : 0.435
qua t in
Inade c , de f i c ie n t
n ic
a c id i o r ga
Soils a
re
a n d l o w in
o n u t r ient ilable
micr s a v a
r a s w ell a
matte o n tent
n c
nitroge
 Issue
Lack of marketing infrastructure and market intelligence
support
Inadequate storage facility
Very high concentration of small and fragmented
landholdings to cause big hurdle towards adoption of
improved and mechanized farming
Inadequate irrigation facility
Inadequate use of ICTs
Soils are acidic, deficient in micronutrient and low in
organic matter as well as available nitrogen content
Lack of opportunity on alternative livelihood options
(Mushroom, Vermi- compost, nursery)
Lack of agro industry
 Important strategies

Scaling up of water productivity

Irrigation infrastructure
water policy
Micro irrigation
Per drop more crop
RCT
Provision of quality seeds and nutrients based
on soil health of each field
Site-specific Nutrient Management

Ware Housing and Cold Chains to prevent post-

harvest losses
Value Addition and Food Processing
Market-led Extension
Market infrastructure, Farm Market, ICT-led Marketing,
Direct Marketing, Storage System

Crop Insurance to mitigate risk

Minimum Support Price (MSP)

Alternative Livelihood Option

Poultry, Bee keeping, Sericulture, Fishery, Goatery, Piggery
etc.

Crop Diversification
Replacing rice, wheat with maize, pulses, oilseeds, fruits,
vegetables
 Integration of Subsidies
Agri-business
Food Processing
Water Management
Soil health
Seed processing and production
Custom Hiring
Plant Protection
Allied sectors like Dairy, Poultry, Fishery etc.
ICT Based Extension
Kisan Call Centre, AGMARKNET, KVKNET, m-Krishi
Farmers Exposure Visits to observe latest improvements on
Crop Protection, Farm Mechanization, etc.
Per Capita income from farming Rs. 3,844 during 2013 (NSSO
Report)
Annual Income Growth Rate : 13.7% (2013)
15% Compounded Income growth Rate
 Recommendatio
ns
1. Increasing incomes by improving productivity
4. Better Market Price
Biotechnology Realization
Yield Enhancement Improving Marketing
Nutritional Profile Facility
Stress Profile Profiling of Crops and
Crop Protection Animal resources
Crop planning based
2.Water and Agri-Input Policies on market demand
Watershed Management Establishing Agri-
Check Dams Business Hubs
Farm Ponds 5. Special Policy
Micro-irrigation Measures
Bridging yield gaps among the districts
Policy Support to seeds
and Biotechnology
3. Integrated Farming System (IFS) industry
Crops Subsidy on Micro-
Horticulture irrigation
Dairy Subsidy on Fertilizer
 Proposals may be
initiated
Development for
of Multipurpose cold storage and cool-chain
facility in the North Bengal region to gear up the production
through improvement in marketing facility as well as to
increase the post-harvest life of perishable horticulture
crops.
Post-harvest management and value-addition of important
high-valued fruits (Passion fruit, Avocado, Dollo Chilli,
Strawberry), vegetables and flowers.
Promoting organic vegetable production through
establishment of organic vegetable villages.
Introducing exotic horticultural crops in this region Dragon
Fruit, Kiwi, Kale, Brussels Sprout, Black Carrot, etc.
Promoting Rubber trees in wasteland management and set
up of related production units.
Exploration of indigenous herbal species in the natural
habitat as potential sources of bio-pesticides, as, a
considerable portion of the natural vegetation belong to this
group.
 Proposal for creation of facilities
at UBKV
Infrastructure development for increasing student intake
and ICAR accreditation.
Pilot model plant for Postharvest Handling and storage of
Horticultural crops.
Assistance to Quality Control Laboratory for NABL
Accreditation and Maintenance.
Establishment of Medicinal Plants hub cum Extraction
plant
Establishment of Floricultural Hub.
Transfer of some government farms at the vicinity of
University Main Campus to UBKV to overcome the
shortage of Farm Area for teaching, Research and
demonstration
Establishment of Model Organic horticulture farming
system for promotion of production and export