PATNA: Bihar has made a big jump in the area of agriculture exports in the last 15 years. State’s total agriculture export was just worth Rs 3 crore in 2006. It has now increased to Rs 2,617 crore in 2020.
State’s agriculture secretary N Sarvana Kumar revealed this on Friday while making a presentation before the CM Nitish Kumar on the works being done in the area of agriculture marketing. The presentation was made at ‘Sankalp’ hall of the CM residence here.
After reviewing the presentation, Nitish asked the agriculture department officials to promote agriculture export in the state at a faster pace. He said the growth in the volume of agriculture exports would lead to an increase in the income of state farmers.
Nitish also asked the officials to organize and develop the state’s agriculture market in a more planned way. “Take all necessary steps to develop infrastructures at all marketing yards,” he said.
The CM further said that the contract farming ecosystem was developing fast in Bihar. “I went to Motihari and closely observed a contract farming model on potatoes. It was a good experience. I was highly impressed by the information provided by the farmers linked to the contract farming,” Nitish said during the review.
Nitish also pointed out that his government took several initiatives in the area of agriculture education since 2006. “A new agriculture university, a new veterinary university and several agricultural colleges were opened in the state which increased students’ attraction towards agriculture education,” Nitish said.
The CM also said that works were continuously being done in the interest of farmers in Bihar. “So far, we have prepared three agriculture road maps. “Advice and suggestions from a large number of farmers are gathered before preparation of the agriculture road map,” he said.
Nitish further pointed out that both- the production and the productivity of crops have increased in the state. Production of crops like makhana, rice, wheat and maize have increased. “Our main target is to increase the income of farmers,” he said.
Earlier, the agriculture secretary, in his presentation, gave detailed information about the future schemes of agriculture marketing, Bihar agri export policy, development of infrastructure in marketing yards, rules for allotment of properties in the agri marketing yards, agri market information system, implementation of eNAM in the state, rules for contract farming and strengthening of Bihar agricultural produces value addition system.
