Tag: mango

Bengal Govt to help the traditional amsotto-makers of Malda

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0Making amsotto, or sun-dried mango pulp – a famous cottage industry of Bengal – is now going to get a major boost as the State Government has decided to extend special monetary help to the women-only self-help groups (SHG) of Malda district to enable them to make its manufacturing more viable. Amsotto has traditionally been made by women.

More monetary help would also bring some stability to the manufacturers, as non-conducive weather (less or no sunshine or unseasonal rains) can badly hamper the making of this traditional mango-based food.

Malda has been selected because it is famous for its varieties of amsotto, many of which are not available elsewhere. With help from the State Government, more amsotto would be produced and be available across the State. Now amsotto is being used as nutritious food for children as well.

Help is already being provided by the State Government. The amsotto-makers of Kotuali gram panchayat (a cluster of 15 villages) near Malda town, a traditional hub, have seen their stock rise once again after many had left the business due to lack of help in marketing their products.

Amsotto is initially made from gopalbhog mangoes, and as the season progresses, with himsagar and lakshmanbhog, and finally with fazli.

Source: Khabar 365 Din

Bengal Govt’s efforts turning Paschimanchal into an alphonso hub

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The western districts of Bengal – together called Paschimanchal – are gradually turning into a hub for the delicious mango, alphonso.

Alphonso has a big export market too. In this sense, a region of Bengal turning into an alphonso hub is a big boon for the State. The Paschimanchal Unnayan Affairs Department is leading this effort.

Till now, Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra was the sole hub of the alphonso. Soon, Bankura will turn into another major hub, and Purulia and Jhargram too.

Three thousand saplings of alphonso were planted in three orchards in Khatra subdivision of Bankura district last year. The first commercial harvest has been done this year. Five thousand saplings were planted in Purulia and Jhargram districts.

The mangoes from Bankura have been analysed at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya and have been found to be very similar in all aspects to the famous alphonsos of Maharashtra.

Source: Millennium Post

KMC adopts new policy of tree plantation

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Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has adopted a new policy on tree plantation. As part of the policy, trees which do not get uprooted easily during storms would be planted across Kolkata, which include fruit-bearing trees, flower-bearing trees as well as woody trees.

Trees having this specific quality are already present in many places. With the help of this new policy, though, many more such trees would be planted.

According to the new policy, the civic body’s Parks Department will plant arjun, chhatim, bakul, jarul and mahogany, which need comparatively less space too, as well as fruit-bearing trees like mango, jamun, guava, litchi and jamrul, which also help counter pollution.

As part of new tree plantation policy too, in order to conserve Kolkata’s green cover, KMC will be distributing saplings to the citizens for free. The saplings will be sourced from the many nurseries that KMC runs. Any citizen who has enough land in and around the house can approach their concerned borough office and collect saplings.

Source: The Times of India

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Bengal Govt creating food processing and agri-horti-logistics policies

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The Bengal Government will soon come up with a food processing policy intended to create a host of incentives for investors.

The Government is also preparing a study on agri-horti-logistics infrastructure, the idea being to identify and narrow certain gaps which hinder the growth of this sector.

The State Government has already taken some measures to boost the food processing sector. It is providing subsidy for setting up packhouses (warehouses where produce are cleaned, graded and stored temporarily) and cold storage modification, and focusing on providing better safety of products by setting up of irradiation facilities. One such has already been set up in Chinsurah.

Fruits and vegetables grown in Bengal have the potential to hit markets in the US and Europe. A consignment of mangoes has recently been sent to the European Union.

Another idea with a big potential, being considered actively by the Government, is the processing of grapes. Already, good-quality grapes are being grown in Bankura and Purulia.

হিমঘর ও খাদ্য প্রক্রিয়াকরণ শিল্পের উপযোগী পরিকাঠামো তৈরি করতে উদ্যোগী রাজ্য সরকার

খুব শীঘ্র খাদ্য প্রক্রিয়াকরণ শিল্পের জন্য লগ্নি-সহায়ক নীতি তৈরি করছে রাজ্য সরকার।
কৃষি ও উদ্যানপালন ক্ষেত্রে পরিকাঠামোগত উন্নয়ন করতে যা যা প্রয়োজন, তার ওপর গবেষণা করা হচ্ছে। যাতে এই ক্ষেত্রে যা অল্প বিস্তর ত্রুটি আছে, তা সংশোধন করে এই ক্ষেত্র আরও উন্নতি করতে পারে।

খাদ্য প্রক্রিয়াকরণ শিল্পের জন্য ইতিমধ্যেই সরকার অনেক পদক্ষেপ নিয়েছে।
হিমঘর ও প্যাকহাউসের তৈরির জন্য সরকার ভর্তুকি দিচ্ছে। খাদ্য দ্রব্য ভালো ও তাজা রাখতে প্রয়োজনীয় ব্যবস্থা নিচ্ছে রাজ্য সরকার। এইরকম একটি কেন্দ্র চুঁচুড়া’য় ইতিমধ্যে এরম একটি কেন্দ্র তৈরি করা হয়েছে।

ফল ও আনাজের বেশ ভালো সম্ভবনা আছে আমেরিকা ও ইউরোপের বাজারে। ইতিমধ্যেই ইউরোপিয়ান দেশগুলিতে বাংলার আম পাঠানো হয়েছে।
বিদেশে বাংলার আঙ্গুরেরও ভালো চাহিদা আছে। ইতিমধ্যেই বাঁকুড়া ও পুরুলিয়া’তে ভালো আঙ্গুর চাষ করা হচ্ছে।

Source: Millennium Post

Bengal Govt promoting mango cultivation as part of 100 Days’ Work

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Mangoes are now being grown in places in Bengal which are not known to be mango-growing regions. This effort by the State Government is helping a lot of people to make a proper living.

The State Government has started these projects as part of the 100 Days’ Work Scheme, in which Bengal has been acknowledged as a leader multiple times in multiple categories by the Central Government.

Villagers who till now were mostly engaged in work like cutting canals and digging wells are now turning into mango growers. Self-help groups (SHGs) have been formed in many villages for the purpose.

Due to these projects, the dry districts of Bankura, Birbhum and Purulia, and Jhargram, are turning into major mango-producing regions. Some of the best varieties of mango like amrapali, mallika and lyangra are being cultivated in these places.

In fact, recently, at mango fests organised by the State Government in Kolkata, mangoes from these regions were a major hit. People were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the fruits.

The land on which the orchards are being planted have been taken on lease for 25 years by the State. Of the profits, 25 per cent goes to the land owners, 65 per cent to the self-help groups and 10 per cent to the local panchayats.

 

রাজ্য সরকারের উদ্যোগে একশো দিনের কাজের তালিকায় আম চাষ

যেসব অঞ্চলে কখনও আমের ফলন হত না, সেসব অঞ্চলের এখন আশাতীত ভাবে হচ্ছে আমের ফলন। দিব্যি ফলছে আম্রপালী, মল্লিকা, ল্যাংড়া। এর পেছনে রয়েছে স্বনির্ভর গোষ্ঠী। এর ফলে সেই সব অঞ্চলের মানুষরা হয়েছেন স্বনির্ভর।

রাজ্য সরকার এই প্রকল্পকে ১০০দিনের কাজের আওতায় এনেছে। আর ১০০ দিনের কাজে দেশের মধ্যে বহু মাপকাঠিতে ও বহুবার সেরা হয়েছে বাংলাই।

আগে যেসকল শ্রমজীবী মানুষ ১০০ দিনের কাজের আওতায় কুয়ো বা খাল খনন করতেন, তারাই এখন হয়ে উঠেছেন আমচাষী। এই বাবদ অনেক জেলায় অনেক স্বনির্ভর গোষ্ঠী গড়ে উঠেছে।

এই প্রকল্পের সৌজন্যে শুষ্ক জেলা যেমন বাঁকুড়া, বীরভূম, পুরুলিয়া, ঝাড়গ্রাম আসতে আসতে হয়ে উঠেছে আম ফলনকারী জেলা।
রাজ্য সরকারের উদ্যোগে সাম্প্রতিককালে সারা রাজ্যের বিভিন্ন প্রজাতির কলকাতায় যে আমের ও আমজাত খাদ্যদ্রব্যের মেলা হল, তা ব্যাপক জনপ্রিয়তা অর্জন করেছে। মেলায় আগত মানুষরা আশান্বিত ভাবে খুশি আমের গুনমান নিয়ে।

যেসকল জমিতে আমচাষ হচ্ছে, সেসব জমি ২৫ বছরের জন্য লিজ নেওয়া হয়েছে। চুক্তি হয়েছে, জমি-মালিক পাবে ফলনের ২৫%। ১০% দিতে হবে পঞ্চায়েতকে। বাকি ৬৫% পাবে স্বনির্ভর গোষ্ঠী।

 

 

Bengal Govt organising Aam Mela in Delhi

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The Bengal Government is organising Aam Mela in New Delhi. It started on June 16 and would continue till June 30.

Last year it was a big hit and so, the Government is aiming to double the sales this year – from 20,000 kg or 20 tonnes to 40,000 kg or 40 tonnes.

This year, most of the mangoes being sold at the fair have been sourced from Malda district, including some of the most well-known varieties like himsagar, langra and laxmanbhoig. New varieties of mango are also available at the fair – like the chatujje-mukhujje and sarikhas from Hooghly district.

 

দিল্লিতে শুরু হল রাজ্যের আম মেলা

গতবারের তুলনায় দ্বিগুণ বিক্রির লক্ষ্যমাত্রা নিয়ে আজ থেকে দিল্লিতে শুরু হল পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকার আয়োজিত ‘আম মেলা’। চলবে আগামী ৩০ জুন পর্যন্ত।

উল্লেখ্য, গতবারের মেলায় প্রায় ২০ টন (২০ হাজার কেজি) আম বিক্রি করেছিল রাজ্য। এবার ৪০ হাজার কেজি আম বিক্রির লক্ষ্যমাত্রা নেওয়া হয়েছে। এবারের মেলায় মালদহ থেকেই সবথেকে বেশি আম এসেছে।

মেলায় উপস্থিত মালদহ জেলার ভারপ্রাপ্ত উপ-কৃষি অধিকর্তা (ফল) রাহুল চক্রবর্তী বলেন, আপাতত আমরা সাড়ে তিন টন আম এনেছি। সব মিলিয়ে মালদহ জেলা থেকে প্রায় ২০ টন আম আনার পরিকল্পনা রয়েছে। হুগলি জেলার চাটুজ্জে-মুখুজ্জে, সরিখাসের মতো বিভিন্ন নয়া প্রজাতির আম এই মেলা আলো করে থাকলেও প্রাধান্য রয়েছে হিমসাগর, ল্যাংড়া, লক্ষ্মণভোগ ইত্যাদি আমেরও।

 

 

Malda mangoes to be exported under Bengal Govt patronage

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The famous mangoes of Malda are soon going to be exported, from June 10, in fact. The Malda District Horticulture Department has made all the preparations for the fruits to be exported.

Dubai would be the first destination, followed by Abu Dhabi, South Korea, Australia, etc. – to seven countries in all. Some European countries are also included in list of exporting destinations.

It should be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during an earlier visit to Malda, had announced that mangoes from the district would be exported. The efforts have now come to fruition.

Among the varieties of mango to be exported are laxman bhog, gopal bhog, himsagar and fajli. According to district officials involved in the process, because there has been a good crop this year, at least 3 lakh metric tonnes would be exported.

 

রাজ্য সরকারের উদ্যোগে মালদহের আম পাড়ি দিল বিদেশ

জুন মাসের ১০ তারিখ থেকে রাজ্য সরকারের উদ্যোগে মালদহের আম পাড়ি দিল বিদেশে। মালদা জেলা উদ্যানপালন দপ্তর এই জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় সব বন্দোবস্ত কাজ করে নিয়েছে।

প্রথমে যাবে দুবাই, তার পর ক্রমে আবুধাবি, দক্ষিণ কোরিয়া, অস্ট্রেলিয়াতে। সব মিলিয়ে মোট সাত’টি দেশে রপ্তানি করা হবে আম। কয়েকটি ইউরোপীয় দেশেও পাঠানো হবে।

প্রসঙ্গত মুখ্যমন্ত্রী এর আগে তাঁর মালদা পরিদর্শনে এই রপ্তানির কথা ঘোষণা করেন। তাঁর উদ্যোগ ইতিমধ্যেই ফলপ্রসু হয়েছে।
যেসব ধরনের আম রপ্তানি করা হবে, সেগুলি হল, লক্ষণ ভোগ, গোপাল ভোগ, হিমসাগর ও ফজলি। এই রপ্তানিতে জড়িত দপ্তরগুলির জেলা আধিকারিকরা জানিয়েছে, যেহেতু এবছর আমের ফলন ভালো হয়েছে, এবার রপ্তানি করা হবে ৩ লাখ মেট্রিক টন।

 

 

 

 

Waive the loans of farmers affected by rainfall: Sudip Bandyopadhyay

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Leader of the party in Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, today urged the Central government to waive the loans of farmers who have been affected by the unseasonal rainfall.

He also suggested that the Centre must work more closely with the State government to provide relief to the potato and mango farmers in West Bengal as well as the rest of India.

“Farmers have been forced to go for distress sale. They are been compelled to sell potatoes at the rate of Rs 3-3.50 per kg which is far below their production cost. It is a very pathetic situation,” he said.

He also added that Government of West Bengal is purchasing potatoes for ICDS and mid-day meal programme at the rate of Rs 5-5.50 per kg from farmers.

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech

Sudip Bandyopadhyay speaks in Lok Sabha on the plight of potato farmers | Full Transcript

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Full Transcript

Farmers have been forced to go for distress sale. They are been compelled to sell potatoes at the rate of Rs 3-3.50 per kg which is far below their production cost. It is a very pathetic situation.

Govt of West Bengal is purchasing potatoes for ICDS and mid-day meal programme at the rate of Rs 5-5.50 per kg from farmers. Similarly, mango is a tasty fruit; it is expected that there will be a bumper level of production of mangoes this summer.

The farmers take loans for their farming. It would be good if the farmers affected by nonseasonal rainfall, as announced by the government of India, be granted waiver from the loans they have taken from the respective banks.

The government of India should interact with State Chief Ministers or the Ministers of the concerned departments to take a positive decision to save these potato farmers and the mango growers in the country as a whole and particularly West Bengal.

WB Govt announces relief of Rs 69 crore to farmers who have suffered crop damage

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West Bengal Government announced a relief of Rs 69 crore to farmers who have suffered crop damage between February and April.

The State Government in a statement informed that severe hailstorm and rains caused damage to different crops to the tune of Rs 903 crore in most of the districts in the state during the second week fortnight of February and 1st week of April, 2015. The cropped area got affected is 33 per cent totalling 50,600 hectares.

Concerned about the farmers, the State Government will be disbursing Rs 69 crore under State Disaster Response Fund and the same will be offered to eligible farmers. The financial assistance will be Rs 1,800 per bigha (Rs 13,500 per hectare) for irrigated areas while for perennial crop area will be Rs 2,400 per bigha (Rs 18,000 per hectare). The Directorate of agriculture has been entrusted with the task of chalking out the disbursing plan to the affected farmers.

The West Bengal government also urged the Centre to either waive or reduce loans taken by potato farmers from different banks, as they were forced to make distress sales of their produce because of bumper crops this year.

“In a letter, we have urged the Centre to either waive or reduce loans taken by the potato farmers, as they are forced to make distress sales of their produce. We had written earlier too in this regard,” State Agriculture Minister Mr Purnendu Bose said.

After a meeting of the Task Force on Market Price, convened by the Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee, Mr Bose said that the letter had been taken to reduce the burden of the affected farmers.

The state had produced 1.15 crore tonnes of potato this year against the state’s demand of 55 to 60 lakh tonnes for consumption, The agriculture minister said.

In a separate letter, the state government has also demanded a compensation of Rs 70 crore from the Centre for the damage of crops over 50,596 hectares of land in 15 districts in hailstorm, Mr Bose said.
“If the compensation is sanctioned, it will be distributed among the affected districts through Disaster Management department.

The state government is also considering to enhance transport subsidy further for export of potato to other states.

“Already five lakh tonnes of potato have been sent to other states. Besides, the state government has purchased 50,000 tonnes of potato directly from the farmers for mid-day meals and to meet the needs of the ICDS,” the agriculture minister said.

Stating that the production of mango was likely to be up to the expectation, Mr Bose said that transport subsidy would also be given to mango exporters.  To reduce the price of eggs, the state government has also waived one per cent levy on poultry feed, he said.