Kolkata, 10th August 2024: Department of Food Processing Industries & Horticulture, Government of West Bengal in association with Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) inaugurated a three-day ‘Bengal Food & Fruit Festival’ on Friday, 9th August 2024 at Netaji Indoor Stadium. The event was unveiled by Shri Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal; Shri Arup Roy, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Food Processing Industries & Horticulture, Government of West Bengal; Shri Moloy Ghatak, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Judicial, Labour and Law, Government of West Bengal; Sri Biplab Roychowdhury, Hon’ble Minister-of-State (I/C), Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture, Aquatic Resources & Fishing Harbour, Government of West Bengal; Sri Onkar Singh Meena, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal; Shri. Khalil Ahmed, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Food Processing Industries & Horticulture, Government of West Bengal; Smt. Manirupa Bhattacharjya, WBCS(Exe.), FPI&H Department; Special Secretary, Food Processing Industries and Horticulture, Government of West Bengal; Smt Swati Bandyapadhyay, Special Secretary, Department of Food Processing Industries & Horticulture, Government of West Bengal; Smt Kasturi Sengupta, Additional Secretary, Department of Food Processing Industries & Horticulture, Government of West Bengal; Mr Shrikant Goenka, Chairman, Agriculture & Food Processing Committee, Indian Chamber of Commerce; and Ms Madhuparna Bhowmick, Senior Director, Indian Chamber of Commerce. The festival celebrates the rich agricultural and horticultural heritage of Bengal, offering a platform to showcase local produce, promote trade and encourage culinary innovation.

Shri Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal, said, “The Bengal Food and Fruit Festival will run from 9th to 11th August, bringing together dignitaries, businessmen, farmers and entrepreneurs. Our farmers have faced severe challenges, including loans, famines and droughts, leading to tragic outcomes. Today, significant improvements have been made: farmers receive ₹10,000 annually, split into two payments of ₹5,000 each, while those with smaller landholdings receive ₹4,000. Insurance premiums are fully covered and if a farmer dies before age 60, their family receives ₹2 lakh immediately. Farmers over 60 are also provided with pensions, putting families in a better financial state. We’ve seen increased production and mechanisation, spending ₹3,000 crores on infrastructure development. We’ve established 93 cold storages, 367 dal mills, 339 warehouses and 1,132 farm mechanisation units to aid our farmers. We’re now self-sufficient in producing potato seeds, no longer dependent on other states. Today’s festival showcases different stalls aimed at promoting awareness of these advancements. We’ve also established around 1,000 FPOs, involving about 5 lakh people, and there are approximately 600 Sufal Bangla outlets across West Bengal. We remain committed to the continued betterment of the department.”

Shri Arup Roy, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Food Processing Industries & Horticulture, Government of West Bengal, stated, “I have been with the department for some time now, and after joining, I discovered fruits and vegetables I had never heard of before, including Dragon Fruit. I’ve visited several farms in Jalpaiguri and other districts across West Bengal and we’re in the process of constructing labs to further our vision of leading and advancing the food and horticultural industry. We take pride in our diverse variety of mangoes, such as Himsagar and Langra, which are very popular among the masses, along with many other exceptional fruits and vegetables. Recognising the health risks associated with fruits ripened using carbide, which can be harmful to patients, we have established ripening centres across various districts to ensure safe consumption. We are now vigilant about weather forecasts, especially cyclonic storms, which allows us to harvest mangoes before storms hit and send them to our ripening centres, benefiting our farmers. In 2023-24, we distributed 82 lakh seeds, including mangoes, guava, lemon, cashew, papaya, dragon fruit, coconut and oranges, to farmers free of cost. Although we currently import onions from Nasik, we do have onion production in districts like Murshidabad and since 2012-13, we have seen an increase in production. Recently, we’ve committed to further enhancing onion production, with efforts focused on improving storage conditions and promoting practices like vermicomposting. Additionally, we’re cultivating orchids in polyhouses. We believe that with continued effort, we will see significant growth in the days to come. This festival, which will continue for three days, is a testament to our ambition to take the food processing industry to new heights.”

Shri Moloy Ghatak, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Judicial, Labour and Law, Government of West Bengal, said, “We have made significant strides in the food processing and horticulture industry, producing a variety of special fruits, including kiwi and dragon fruit, right here in Bengal. Our Hon’ble Chief Minister is dedicated to uplifting farmers, promoting cash crops alongside other agricultural products. Over the years, our production has grown substantially and the CM has also proposed increasing crop insurance for farmers.”

Mr Shrikant Goenka, Chairman, Agriculture & Food Processing Committee, Indian Chamber of Commerce, said, “Despite covering only 2.7% of India’s geographic area, West Bengal supports 8.8% of its population. We have approximately 71 lakh farming families, of which 96% are small and marginal. This festival celebrates the rich diversity of agriculture and food processing in Bengal with a special focus on the state’s exotic fruits and vegetables, such as dragon fruit, avocado and year-round produce. We are proud of the strides made in broccoli, mushroom cultivation and strawberry plantations, which are opening new avenues for our farmers. Under the guidance of key government officials and experts, the horticulture and floriculture sectors have flourished, making West Bengal a leading state in food processing. This festival is not only a showcase of our achievements but also a platform to encourage further investment, technological innovation and export growth in the region. The seminars and exhibitions will highlight the latest technologies to inspire our farmers and FPOs who have travelled to be here. The government has been supporting, guiding and subsidising numerous interventions, such as micro-irrigation and improved seeds, all of which are available for exploration at this exhibition. I encourage our farmers to take full advantage of these resources as we progress together. Over the next three days, we hope it will serve as a catalyst for greater success in agriculture and food processing.”

Sri Onkar Singh Meena, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal, said, “Under the guidance of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, significant progress has been made in the food processing and horticulture departments. Members of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and others involved in the food processing sector should focus on increasing the value addition of products, which will benefit farmers. Those in food processing also handle the import of various crops, so it’s crucial that we engage in more discussions with farmers. This will help them become more informed and benefit both themselves and the entire department.”

Highlighting on the farmers, Sri Biplab Roychowdhury, Hon’ble Minister-of-State (I/C), Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture, Aquatic Resources & Fishing Harbour, Government of West Bengal, stated, “There are numerous crop options available for production. Learning is an ongoing process and there’s always more to discover. Let’s take this opportunity to expand our knowledge in the food and horticulture sectors and work towards their continuous improvement.”

Ms Madhuparna Bhowmick, Senior Director, Indian Chamber of Commerce, said, “The Bengal Food and Fruit Festival highlights the rich agricultural diversity of our region and serves as a vital platform for showcasing local produce. As the Indian Chamber of Commerce, we are committed to advancing this initiative, fostering innovation and promoting sustainable growth in the food and horticulture sectors.”