The Hindu Business Line : Bengal's credit needs for plantation, horticulture put at Rs 184 crore

According to Nabard, the diverse agro-climatic and physiographic conditions in the plains, and the hilly zone offer scope for cultivation of several high-value medicinal and aromatic plants.

Kolkata , Jan. 11

THE National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), in its just released State Focus Paper - 2006-07 on West Bengal, has estimated the credit projection for the State's Plantation and Horticulture sector at Rs 183.81 crore.

And for Forestry and Wasteland Development, the projected requirement for 2006-07 is Rs 18.28 crore.

Nabard has also made a strong pitch for contract farming, given the scope for promotion of herbal products industry in the districts, stating that it (contract farming) provided an assured market for the produce, while facilitating the banks to extend finance to farmers through appropriate tie-ups.

According to the Focus Paper, the diverse agro-climatic and physiographic conditions in the plains, and the hilly zone offer scope for cultivation of several high-value medicinal and aromatic plants.

The bank has identified unorganised production and lack of awareness among farmers as two of the major constraints with regard to medicinal and aromatic plants having large untapped commercial potential.

Adequate and timely supply of quality planting material, especially for the perennial horticulture crops, have to be ensured, it is pointed out.

And to tackle this issue, Nabard has favoured setting up of private nurseries.

In order to address the issue of long pre-bearing period in perennial horticulture crops, farmers have been advised to take up mixed cropping/mixed farming coupled with other activities such as dairy/broiler poultry, fisheries etc.

Citing the State's tea sector, plagued by low productivity, quality and higher production costs rendering it uncompetitive in both domestic and global markets, the bank has called for systematic replanting of old and low-productive sections/gardens, rejuvenation, infilling, drainage and irrigation infrastructure development.

Stressing on the need for urgent modernisation of processing facilities for tea, to improve quality and adherence to prescribed SPS (Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary) standards, the bank has sought greater attention to value addition and promotion of brand equity, development of technology options and a certification process for promoting organic tea cultivation to tap the export potential.

Among the plantation crops in the State, tea is the main crop covering nearly 1.13 lakh ha with a production of about 200 million kg, mainly concentrated in the three North Bengal districts of Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Uttar Dinajpur.

Under floriculture, with over 7,300 ha under flower cultivation, West Bengal has a competitive advantage owing to its diverse (as many as six) agro-climatic zones, making it a major producer of vegetables, flowers, tea and spices.

With regard to fruits and vegetables, the State generates a surplus, with a production of 20 lakh tonnes and 109 lakh tonnes respectively.

The State has the highest productivity in potato and pineapple.