Agri-roadmap to pilot rainbow revolution in Bihar: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said his government has launched an agri-roadmap to pilot a rainbow revolution to give a fillip to the agriculture and allied sectors in the state.
Rainbow revolution is an integral development programme of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, sugarcane, fishery, poultry and animal husbandry.
"I am of the opinion that economic growth of Bihar as well as of the country is not possible without development of the agriculture sector," Kumar said at a function in Purnia district after inaugurating new buildings of the Bhola Paswan Shastri Agriculture College.
Keeping in mind the objective of ushering in a rainbow revolution in Bihar, the state government has launched an agriculture roadmap under which habitats with population of 250 people would be connected with concrete roads to help farmers bring their produce to the markets, Kumar said.

Among other agendas of the roadmap, it has been decided to enhance storage capacity of farm produce for which new godowns were being constructed, the Chief Minister said adding, steps have been taken to boost up the food processing industry so that farmers get better price of their crop.
Expressing concerns over climate change and global warming which might have an adverse effect on the farm sector, Kumar said to address the problem and contribute to the ongoing efforts of maintaining the ecological balance, the state government has set out on a green mission to increase the forest cover from nine to 15 per cent over the next five years.

As per data available, forest cover in Bihar has increased to 13 per cent, he said.

Kumar emphasised on the need for advanced farm techniques for development of the farm sector for which more research was required by the agro scientists and said the state government has set up its second agriculture university as well as three new agriculture colleges - one each at Saharsa, Purnia and Kishanganj.
Stating that the new agriculture university and colleges have been set up with a focus on research, the Chief Minister called upon the parents to encourage their wards to take up studies in this field for which the state government would give monthly scholarship of Rs 2,500 to each student, besides an annual grant of Rs 6,000 for purchase of books.

Referring to the spectre of drought looming over Bihar, Kumar said steps have been taken to militate farmers' woes by enhancing diesel subsidy by Rs five to Rs 30 per litre for irrigation purpose.
State agriculture minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary also spoke on the occasion exhorting farmers of north-eastern districts of Bihar to augment farm production.