State Bureau, Patna. A discussion on 'Prosperous Farmers, Strong Bihar - Production to Export, Integrated Fruit Revolution' was organized in the auditorium of Krishi Bhawan on Thursday. Its main objective is to create a roadmap for the next five years, which can ensure continuous and sustainable increase in the income of farmers by making the fruit and horticulture sector in the state scientific, organized and market-oriented.
Presiding over the discussion, Principal Secretary Pankaj Kumar said that work is being done on a multidimensional strategy for the overall development of the fruit and horticulture sector. Promotion of scientific production system, availability of high quality planting material, modern packaging, strong cold chain network and effective marketing system are being strengthened.
Production of high value fruits like Lemon, Malta, Strawberry, Dragon Fruit are being specially encouraged, so that farmers can get better market prices and farming can become more profitable. In the discussion, measures to make fruit production and export more profitable were discussed in detail through dialogue between officials, agricultural scientists and farmers.
A commitment was made for production, processing and marketing of fruits by adopting cluster based model. It was also told in the program that farmers will be provided regular training related to new technologies, modern horticulture practices, quality control and value addition.
Bihar's farming can get a boost from Ease of Agriculture
On the other hand, celebrating the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Good Governance Day, the Agriculture Department organized a state-level seminar at Bamati Bhawan. It was inaugurated by Agriculture Minister Ramkripal Yadav. Principal Secretary Pankaj Kumar said that Kisan Call Center has been strengthened for permanent solution to the problems of farmers.
He said that under Ease of Agriculture, Bihar's agriculture can be taken to new heights through more production in less time, better profits, cultivation of three crops in a year and continuous innovation.
This seminar on Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan-Jai Vigyan was organized in all the blocks of the state including Patna. Ramkripal said that I want the crop produce of Bihar to reach every corner of the world. Our aim is to make Bihar the first state in the field of agriculture. We consider service to farmers as service to God. Whoever harasses the farmer will not be spared.
He said that strict action will be taken against those having anti-farmer mentality. Farmers from different areas of the state participated in the seminar.
Ram Vinay Kumar, a farmer from Dulhinbazar in Patna, shared suggestions to make natural farming environment friendly, sustainable and profitable by combining it with scientific methods and traditional knowledge. Special Secretary Dr. Birendra Prasad Yadav, Agriculture Director Saurabh Suman Yadav, Bamati Director Dhananjay Pati Tripathi etc. were present in the seminar.