Bitter Gourd Yield Plummets After a Decade: Farmers Seek Solutions
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Bitter Gourd Yield Plummets in South 24 Parganas After a Decade, Farmers Seek Solutions
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News18•09-03-2026, 14:39
Bitter Gourd Yield Plummets in South 24 Parganas After a Decade, Farmers Seek Solutions
•Bitter gourd yield has significantly dropped in Namkhana, South 24 Parganas, mirroring a situation last seen in 2013.
•Farmers attribute the low yield to unusually cold temperatures, impacting plant growth and seed germination.
•Despite the shortage, wholesale prices have soared to ₹100 per kilogram this year, a stark contrast to ₹4 per kilogram last year.
•Dr. Hirak Bandyopadhyay explains that temperatures below 15°C severely damage bitter gourd cultivation, which requires 18°C for germination and 24-27°C for growth.
•The crisis affects varieties like Pragati, Bipasha-2, Pakhi, Meghna, and Moynaburi, typically sown after Aman paddy harvest.