Table of Contents Acknowledgement ................................................................................................................................................ 6 Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 Executive Summary and Overview ....................................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 The Study Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 9 1.3 The Challenges and Limitations ........................................................................................................ 9 1.4 An Overview of the Tradable Bio-resources .................................................................................. 10 1.5 Specific Bio-resource Based Detailed Study ................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER - I ................................................................................................................................................... 12 METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY .................................................................................................................. 12 1.1 Approach.......................................................................................................................................... 12 1.2.1 Group discussions with line departments in districts ................................................................... 14 1.2.2 Interaction with Trade Bodies ....................................................................................................... 15 1.2.3 Interaction with Individual Traders ............................................................................................... 16 1.2.4 Visits to Markets/Haats ................................................................................................................ 16 1.2.5 Interaction with Industry .............................................................................................................. 17 1.2.6 Data Collection Instruments ......................................................................................................... 18 1.2.7 Geographical Coverage ................................................................................................................. 18 1.2.8 Data Collation and Review ............................................................................................................ 20 1.2.9 Data Estimation and Analysis ........................................................................................................ 20 CHAPTER – II ................................................................................................................................................. 21 AGRICULTURE .................................................................................................................................................. 21 2.1 An Overview of Agriculture in West Bengal ................................................................................... 21 2.2 Cereals ............................................................................................................................................. 22 2.2.1.1 Aromatic Rice ............................................................................................................................. 23 2.2.1.2 By-products of Rice .................................................................................................................... 25 2.2.2 Wheat (Triticum aestivum) ........................................................................................................... 26 2.2.2.1 By-products of Wheat ................................................................................................................ 27 2.2.3 Maize (Zea mays) .......................................................................................................................... 27 2.2.4 Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) ......................................................................................................... 27 2.4 Pulses ............................................................................................................................................... 29 2 2.5 Oil Seeds .......................................................................................................................................... 30 2.5.1 Data on Oil Seeds .......................................................................................................................... 30 2.6 Tea (Camellia sinensis) .................................................................................................................... 31 2.6.1 Data on Tea and Tradable Value ................................................................................................... 31 2.7 Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) ......................................................................................................... 32 2.8 Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) ........................................................................................... 32 2.8.1 Data on Sugarcane in West Bengal ............................................................................................... 33 2.8.2 Gur (Sugarcane Molasses) ............................................................................................................. 33 2.9 Natural Fibres .................................................................................................................................. 33 CHAPTER III ................................................................................................................................................... 36 HORTICULTURE ............................................................................................................................................... 36 3.1 An Overview of Horticulture in West Bengal ................................................................................. 36 3.2 Vegetables ....................................................................................................................................... 37 3.3 Fruits ................................................................................................................................................ 43 3.4 Flowers ............................................................................................................................................. 49 3.5 Spices ............................................................................................................................................... 52 3.6 Plantation Crops (other than tea) ................................................................................................... 54 3.7 Bamboo (Bambuseae dendrocalmus) ............................................................................................. 55 3.8 Broom Stick and Mat Stick .............................................................................................................. 56 3.9 Aquatic Plants .................................................................................................................................. 57 3.10 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................................................ 58 CHAPTER IV ................................................................................................................................................... 60 SERICULTURE .................................................................................................................................................... 60 4.1 An overview of Sericulture in West Bengal .................................................................................... 60 4.2 Present status of Sericulture in West Bengal ................................................................................. 60 4.3 Data on Sericulture in West Bengal ................................................................................................ 61 4.4 Cocoon Markets in West Bengal ..................................................................................................... 63 4.5 Silk Textile in West Bengal .............................................................................................................. 64 CHAPTER V .................................................................................................................................................... 65 ANIMAL RESOURCES ....................................................................................................................................... 65 5.1 Overview of Animal Resources in West Bengal ............................................................................. 65 5.2 Livestock Population in West Bengal .............................................................................................. 66 5.3 Poultry Bird ...................................................................................................................................... 69 3 5.4 Ornamental or Pet Bird ..................................................................................................................