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Master’s and Doctoral degree programme of the Department of Fruit Science (erstwhile Department of Fruits and Orchard Management) was initiated in 1996 with the establishment of the Faculty of Horticulture in the University to strengthen the academic programme including research works and extension activities in Horticulture as a whole and Fruit Science in particular. Students from West Bengal, other states of India and foreign country are being admitted for Master’s and Doctoral degree programme of the Department of Fruit Science. Large pool of small and marginal farmers has taken fruit farming as their viable livelihood security. The Department is also functioning as an effective linkage for the fruit growers, research and extension workers of various stakeholders, Govt., Semi-Govt. and Non-Govt. Organizations.

Vision

• Basic and strategic research to develop cost effective and viable technologies for production of tropical and subtropical fruits.
• Collection, conservation and evaluation of genetic diversity of tropical and subtropical fruit crops.
• Improvement of production technologies of tropical and subtropical fruit crops.
• Advancement in propagation techniques and mass production of quality planting materials.
• Precision farming and protected cultivation.

Mission

• Extensive/Intensive surveys/collection of elite germplasm, identification and establishment of field Gene Bank for major/underutilized fruit crops.
• Morphological and molecular characterization of indigenous and conserved germplasm of mango, guava, litchi, jackfruit, banana to best utilize them in breeding programme and to develop trait specific improved cultivar.
• Identifying off-season and double or triple cropping mango varieties for extending the mango availability period.
• Development of genetic linkage maps for fruit colour, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
• Rejuvenation of mango orchards in relation to canopy architecture management, bearing behaviour, use of intercrops and mulching for improving productivity.
• Standardization of high density plantation in mango (cv. Amrapalli), litchi and guava on the basis of light infiltration, photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal behavior and harnessing solar energy etc. by modifying tree canopy architecture.
• Development of techniques for balanced and conjunctive use of different sources of nutrient supply including bio-fertilizers for evolving integrated plant nutrient management (IPNM) modules in local/regional perspectives for all the tropical and sub-tropical fruit crops.
• Technological development for overcoming irregular bearing in mango and litchi.
• Optimization of irrigation water requirement with micro-irrigation including fertigation in major fruit crops.
• Standardization of fruit bagging materials specification (thickness, colour, timing of application) to obtain quality fruit with reducing chemical application for mango, litchi, banana and guava.
• Improving branch bending technique in guava to regulate market oriented harvesting time.
• Developing canopy management for better solar radiation, harvesting for high yield and quality fruits.
• Collection, conservation and evaluation of superior germplasms of mango, jackfruit, aonla, bael and pomegranate suitable for the region.
• Development of organic production protocol of major fruit crop.
• Collection and evaluation of indigenous and exotic germplasm of underutilized fruits, viz. jamun, wax apple, karonda, khirnee, woodapple, tamarind, custard apple, loquat, mulberry, carambola, bael etc.
• Development of climate resilient technology in major tropical and subtropical fruit crops.
• Standardization and development of rootstock against biotic and abiotic stress management.
• Introduction and popularization of exotic fruit crops under the existing climatic condition viz. dragon fruit, longan, rambutan tec.