Siliguri (West Bengal), Nov. 13 (ANI): In an attempt to increase the output of quality pineapples in West Bengal's Siliguri District, a group of farmers will be visiting Brazil in December to garner education on the fruits cultivation.
The district administration of Siliguri has decided to construct an export zone to boost up the trade with foreign countries.
The team visiting Brazil would study the different varieties of pineapples in the country, compared to only one 'Joint Q' variety grown in the district.
Considered to be the 'motherland' for pineapples, 80 percent of Brazil's population is considered to be involved in the cultivation of the fruit.
Arun Mandal, a pineapple farmer said: "In our trip to Brazil we will be visiting the universities in Sao Paolo, Amazon region, Rio de Janerio and the research centres in this regions. We will also examine the process after the growth of a fresh pineapple that has led to a formation of a small scale industry."
"The cultivation of pineapple began almost 50 years back in north Bengal. And at present pineapple cultivation is happening on 20,007 hectares of land. 300,000 people are directly or indirectly dependent on the pineapple cultivation," added Mandal.
Bhidannagar, a village under Siliguri sub-division, is the world's fourth largest pineapple producing region. Bhidannagar pineapples have a lucrative demand all over the country along with Nepal, and Bhutan. (ANI)
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