National Horticulture Board and Coconut Development Board have identified Jharkhand as one of the most promising states for the cultivation of coconut palm and cashew nut.
Plantations of these crops could immediately be extended to an area of more than 1,800 hectares. Output of both the products in Jharkhand could be much in excess of 15,000 metric tons.
In absence of processing arrangements, a substantial quantity of cashew nuts now being grown in the state were rotting on trees. Farmers were most reluctant to continue or extend cultivation till a market was assured, said government sources.
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Agricultural scientists have however pointed out that soil and climatic conditions of Jharkhand were ideal for production of fruits, vegetables, flowers and medicinal and aromatic plants.
Nabard also assessed the scope of augmenting flow of credit to farmers in Jharkhand to increase production of horticultural products and take up cultivation of more products in the horticulture basket.
Sources in the agriculture department of the state government said that if the market was assured, there was adequate scope for organising more farmers to take up the production of fruits, medicinal plants, bee-keeping, food processing, sericulture and floriculture.
The soil and climate of Jharkhand was also suitable for growing varieties of flowers. However, marketing in neighbouring markets would have to be ensured.