Status and Performance of Pineapple Cultivation in West Bengal: A Geographical Analysis

Pineapple (Ananas Comosus) is very important tropical and sub-tropical fruit and is commercially cultivated in worldwide. The fruit has the capacity to fertilize the national as well as state economy if cultivate judicious manner. October-November is the growing season of pineapple in northern part of West Bengal. India produced 1861 thousand metric tonnes in 2017 contributing more than 7 per cent of the whole world (27402). West Bengal is the emerging state for pineapple cultivation. In terms of pineapple production West Bengal alone produced 336.11 thousand metric tonnes which is near about 17 per cent of country's total production. The study is mainly based on secondary sources of data obtained from Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), District Statistical Handbook, National Horticulture Board, indiastat.com. Etc. The study reveals that, pineapple is produced mainly in four districts of West Bengal which are Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar, shares more than 90 per cent of states total production. West Bengal is the leading producer of pineapple in India though it has low share of land than Assam and Manipur. In terms of productivity or yield, West Bengal (30 MT/Hectare) stand in a good position after Karnataka (62.67 MT/Hectare) and Tamil Nadu (34.05 MT/Hectare). There are many problems (inadequate farm management technique, less extension source, less scientific knowledge etc.) lies in pineapple cultivation of farmers which led to variation of yield among different states of India and West Bengal is not exception of that.