The general strategies for development are: Alleviation of stubbornly high incidence of hunger and poverty with greater

focus on nutritional adequacy linked with food security. Specific pathways are being suggested for protection and enhancement soil, plant, livestock and fish health, climate change management, environmental footprint of agriculture, carbon sequestration, integrated farming system, green agriculture, biomass utilization. Waste management, judicious use of land & water Specific measures are being detailed out for enhancing productivity, profitability and income of large section of population covering small,marginal, sub marginal and landless farmers.

Strength of the State: The intrinsic strength of the State for its favourable six agro climatic zones favoring cultivation of crops, vegetables, fruits, flowers etc round the year. Hilly & Terai regions for High value Horticulture crops(Fruits, Orchids, spices, . Huge Mangrove forest not yet been explored to that extent Availability of perennial rivers and large water bodies for water resources& also for pisciculture. Coastal area in the southern part of the State is favourable for marine production Substantial production of egg, poultry and meat through livestock rearing State is well connected, both nationally and internationally through rail, road, air and seaports. The international boundaries with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh with ICPs for export and import.
In spite of many advantages of agro climatic zones, soil, cropping pattern, water resources etc the development of Horticulture in totality & improvement of economical status of large section of poor farmers has not been taken place as was expected for many reasons.

Constraints: Since last more than a decade the importance of Horticulture was realized by the Ministry of Agriculture Horticulture, GOI, towards additional supplement on food security & nutritional security and enforced with a good number of mission mode projects/ coordinated projects etc. The existing FPI & H Dept is functioning with a visionary but without any positive execution / implementation strategy for all out Horticulture development in the State. Some of the developing issues have been focused in paper only but little benefits have been visible among the lower level beneficiaries.

Substantial amount of fund has also been released from time to time under both Plan & Non-plan expenditure. Out of the funds many States have made breakthrough in the field of horticulture by implementing successfully the following schemes and projects: National Horticulture Mission; RKVY; National Bamboo Mission; Agri Export Zones (AEZ); Micro Irrigation schemes; Accelerated Development of Minor Irrigation; MGNREGA; National medicinal plant Board /State Medicinal Plant Board; National Alma campaign.

 The outcome of the above projects under the existing visionary has not been visible to a great extent in the state of West Bengal for which the lower beneficiaries of all corners of the State has been neglected. So far a single farm of different agro climatic regions not yet converted into a Model farm with all advance facilities /technologies for high tech horticulture as a Centre of excellence for farmers / growers regarding advancement of horticulture in the State. The effect of development is not much visible at the Village level by Lower beneficiaries for their improved economy which was felt at. Though tangible contribution for the beneficiaries has not been found, but certificate of fund utilization have been submitted year after year by the implementing Agencies giving negligible output.

Some of the factors which are the bottle neck of development are mentioned below:
 Non availability of quality seed /planting materials(saplings through tissue culture ) in the State is the main hurdle for high tech commercial Horticulture for all crops viz; banana, vegetables & exotic vegetables, flowers, orchids, high value fruits (strawberry, sweet lemon, mandarin orange (dye back resistant), ,onion, high value medicinal plants etc. Little efforts have been given to resolve the problem.  Agro technology ( under Good Agricultural practices) including new cropping systems under West Bengal condition had not been standardized and most of them are not yet done on large scale basis.  Standardization of proper management technology in respect of fertility, irrigation, pest management etc has not been done.  Protected cultivation through high cost as well as low cost technology (poly house, shade net house) is not yet popularized among the growers.

 High tech crop management with Growth regulator, micronutrients, modern chemicals viz fruit /flower /orchid -root setting eco-friendly chemicals, organic /bio-fertilizers, advance biocides including botanicals etc. in right time have not been tested so far in terms of transfer of technology to the growers.  Advanced irrigation system viz; sprinkler, drip, poly mulching concept has not been popular so far in the state.  Banking sectors including NABRD are not very much friendly to Growers providing necessary technical and financial support.  Lack of Cold Chain/pre and post harvest net work system in the state.  Marketing net work is poor in the State for domestic retail, wholesale as well as export marketing system.  A systematic policy planning on Horticulture development in the state has not been made so far through State Planning Board defining the priority of food & nutritional security followed by economic upliftment of farming community involved in horticultural work.

Reasons for the Gap:

 The State Horticulture Dept. is comparatively new one bifurcating from parent Dept. i.e. Dept. of Agriculture.  Technical man powers are not in place (a big gap) in the Dept since its inception, due to which visionary & execution at the field level is impossible.  The administrative Head, Secretary/Asst secretary is the overall Technical Head of this Dept. since its inception & WBCS officers are heading the Dept having no technical background in Horticulture / Food processing. In addition there is frequent change of Administrative Head & Technical Head (Director). Initially Technical Head was chaired by a retired person for short period. Later on a couple of committees like Technical advisory farm support, SMPB, research committee under SMPB etc. was formed from time to time but never functioned properly.  Agricultural Universities (BCKV & UBKV) / Inst of Ag science, Calcutta University & Viswabharati are within the vicinity of the State Dept. But the ideas, potential expertise, infrastructures, technical manpower, machinery, equipment, model garden, orchard, nursery etc of these Institutions have not been utilized captively by the Dept. for the growth of Horticulture in the state. The Universities and Research Institutions (BCKV, UVKV, CU, JU, Viswabharati) are not very much involved for development of Horticulture in the State.

 The State Dept of FPI & H never offered responsibility to these Institutions for joining hands with the Dept. for development of Horticulture in the State.  Minimum support & benefit (Technical & Administrative) has been provided to North Bengal Region( Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling (Kalimpong, Pedong, Mongpo), Malda, Dinajpur including Paschimanchal- West Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum, where potentials would have been maximum for high value horticulture.  Proper drive has not been given to develop mango, mandarin orange, litchi, pine apple, vegetables, medicinal herbs, spices, ornamental flowers / orchids, guava, rose, tuberose which are the natural habitats of some specific agro climatic regions of the State for better production as well as export purpose.  Little efforts have been given for PPP programme for Horticulture & food processing industry development as well.  Research & development curriculum for Food processing should have been handed over to the Universities & Corporate sectors (Viz: JU, CU, BU, BCKV & UBKV, relevant corporate sectors) for promoting the growth of horticulture.

 Monitoring on proper execution of State & GOI Horticulture Projects was very negligible. The State Dept implemented activities by allocating fund to the Govt & Govt allied Institutions but mile stone of activity has never been monitored and evaluated. (Eg: Sophisticated APEDA export Testing laboratory at BCKV, Regional lab for MAPat BCKV & Health Deptt has never extended the facility to the beneficiaries as yet excepting organizing Seminars and Workshops. No tangible result from Lab funding has been come out till date.

Road map for Horticulture Development in West Bengal:

a) Convergence of Deptt of Agriculture, FPI & Horticulture, Ag Marketing to one Deptt. is highly essential without any further delay(If feasible). b) Recruitment of technical manpower for FPI & Horticulture Dept to done in phases. c) A Statutory approved Horticulture/ Advisory Council needs to be formed as Apex body for guiding Agri Education ,Research & Extension, Execution & Monitoring various programme in order to fulfill the desire of lower beneficiaries in Agriculture in Totality. The committee may be formed consisting of members from all sectors i.e. Govt, SAU, Bank, Chamber, Entrepreneurs/Growers. d) Advisory Council body will also search various ways for Agri / Hort Based Industry (region specific/ resource specific) starting from Hill to coastal area may be under PPP or Individual project. e) Identifying the land & farms belongs to the State Govt / University for high tech horticulture & effective utilization of this land for economically viable high value advance cropping system for making the land towards higher cropping intensity & productivity.

I. Marking of Land /Farm ( Belongs to State Govt/University) may be utilized for quality seed / planting materials production: eg; Krishnanagr farm / Taldangra farm, Chandannagar, Mohitnagar farm availing existing tissue culture & other infrastructures for quality seed/planting materials production & distribution. viz; vegetables, banana, strawberry, pine apple, mandarin orange, tea, sweet lemon( Mosambi), mango, capsicum, safedmusli, acangi (medicinal),areca nut, coconut etc. II. Some other farms in different regions especially in Taldangra Farm of Bankura, Western Region, Mohitnagar Farm of Jalpaiguri, Northern region, Chandanagar & Krishnagar Farms may also be utilized for transformation into a model farm as Centre of excellence

f) Couple of University farms may be transformed into economically viable crop wise Hort. model farm by means of which the growers/ entrepreneurs/ lower beneficiaries will be able to get their confidence for utilization of their land under Horticulture.

g) Target specific Integration/collaborative Research & Extension wing of SAU (BCKV, UBKV), General/ Central University ( Cal Univ .Ag section), Central University(Ag section, VV), Research Institute viz; CRIJAF, CICFRI, IJTRI, (All under ICAR), KVKs, with the Govt Dept/ Directorate of Horticulture/ Agriculture Brain storming session will facilitate for finding ways for Hort development. h) Research orientation entirely on the problem of the farmers & new technology development in Ag & allied field. Establishment of some model Village in all districts of the State for profitable agriculture which is an urgent need to make the farmers appraised that Horticulture/agriculture is not loosing profession. i) Marketing strategies are to be refined for Agri /Hort & relevant commodities involving the corporate viz; Nafed, Benfed W.B State cooperative marketing federation, Apeda for Export, Reliance, ITC, Metro etc for the benefits of Lower level beneficiaries. j) Care and attention for delivery & monitoring of technology extension, inputs, technical back up by the Govt /NGOs, University etc, new cropping system, water harvesting & its management for Ag., irrigation planning, fertility management & pest management with out affecting environment, post harvest processing & preservation, waste land utilization has to be looked into on priority basis.

k) Importance has to be given for some commercial crops on State Specific Natural habitat viz; tea, spices, Orange, Mango, Litchi, Exotic Flower & Orchids, Guava, Pine apple, forest & Forest products, etc growing in some of the specific districts for growing quality produces ,enhance productivity, value addition & based industries. l) There should be strong coordination ( project oriented Time bound & output wise) between University, Research Institutes, Govt Dept, involving Entrepreneurs/ Growers/Beneficiaries All chambers of commerce, Banking sectors, for development of Total Agriculture/ Horticulture in the State with strong professional attitude in order to upheld the social prestige of Agriculture /Horticulture profession Nationally & Internationally.

Name of crop

Period of Availability

Major Production Areas

Mango Litchi Mandarin orange Pineapple Banana

May-July May - June Dec - Feb April-November Round the Year

Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia,N-24parganas,Hoogly Murshidabad, Malda, Nadia, S-24parganas Darjeeling hills Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Uttar Dinajpur Hooghly, 24- Parganas (south), Nadia, Murshidabad

Cashew nut Papaya Bhindi

Purba and Paschim Medinipur Round the year Round the year (except chilled winter) Round the year Round the year Round the year Round the year Round the year Sept - Feb Hoogly,Burdwan,N-24pgs,Nadia,Murshidabad Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, Murshidabad, Malda, N& S-24parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, Burdwan, Birbhum Do Do Do Do Do Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, Murshidabad, Malda, N& S-24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, Burdwan, Birbhum, Darjeeling do Murshidabad, Malda, N& S-24parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, Medinipur,S-24pgs,howrah,jalpaguri,coochebehar Darjeeling Purba Medinipur, Nadia, Nadia, Hooghly, Howrah, N & S 24pgs,Puba Medinipur

Brinjal Bottle gourd Tomato Chili Bitter Gourd Cauliflower

Cabbage Parwal

Oct - Feb Round the year Round the year January November-March Round the year

Betel vine Orchids Gladiolus, Gerbera

Tuberose

Prepared by:

Prof Ashim Chowdhury,

Acharya, P.C .Ray professor In Agricultural chemistry(Retired), Institute of Agricultural science, Calcutta University, & former professor & Head, Agricultural chemicals, F/Ag,BCKV. Mail ID: ashimchowdhry@gmail.com Mobile:(M) 9830243208