Innovative technology boosts high-quality sapling production in Hooghly

Hooghly: West Bengal’s Chunchura, is situated in the Hooghly district is the only vegetable excellence center in the state, where high-quality saplings are being produced with the help of Israeli technology. It has made a lot of progress in recent years, and now it is being recognized as the center for supplying seedlings across the state as well as several states, including Gujarat.

The center is capable of producing winter vegetable seedlings such as capsicum, cherry tomato, lettuce, broccoli, stunted cabbage, and colourful flowers. Polyhouses are being used for the growth of such seedlings, where temperature and other conditions are carefully controlled and monitored for each seedling’s development, resulting in high-yielding plants. Farmers are taking a lot of interest in these saplings. Therefore, its demand has been growing fast, giving better yields in a shorter time.

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Agriculture officer Shubhdeep Nath highlighted the unique methods employed at the center. “Seedlings are grown in coco peat without using soil, with 10% vermicompost added. They are cultivated in square plugs, ensuring robust root systems. When transplanted into the ground, these plants grow rapidly, reducing the harvest time by 10 to 15 days,” he said. This allows farmers to supply vegetables to the market earlier, fetching higher prices.

These seedlings are being collected by farmers and agriculture cooperatives, getting popularity to boost productivity and profitability as well. The success of this center highlights the inclination of farmers towards horticulture practices and switching from traditional farming, giving a significant monetary advantage to farmers while ensuring a steady supply of fresh produce to the market.