The Eastern state of Bihar has received a Budget bonanza in terms of new agricultural initiatives and boosting incomes for the state’s farmers: the establishment of a Makhana Board, financial support for the Western Koshi Canal Project, and the establishment of the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Management.
For the north-eastern region, the Centre has announced its plan to set up an urea plant with an annual capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes in Assam.
“It is encouraging that our people are increasingly becoming aware of their nutritional needs. It is a sign of a society becoming healthier. With rising income levels, the consumption of vegetables, fruits and shree-anna is increasing significantly. A comprehensive programme to promote production, efficient supplies, processing, and remunerative prices for farmers will be launched in partnership with states,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said during her Budget speech, adding appropriate institutional mechanisms for implementation and participation of farmer producer organizations and cooperatives will be set up.
“For this, there is a special opportunity for the people of Bihar. A Makhana Board will be established in the state to improve production, processing, value addition, and marketing of makhana,” the FM said.
Under this initiative, people engaged in these activities will be organized into Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). The Board will provide handholding and training support to makhana farmers and will also work to ensure they receive the benefits of all relevant Government schemes.
Sitharaman said the government will establish a National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management in Bihar, in line with its commitment towards ‘Purvodaya’. The institute will provide a strong fillip to food processing activities in the entire Eastern region. This will result in enhanced income for the farmers through value addition to their produce and skilling, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for the youth.
The Centre will also provide financial support for the Western Koshi Canal ERM Project, benefitting a large number of farmers cultivating over 50,000 hectares of land in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar.
“For Atmanirbharta in urea production, our government had reopened three dormant urea plants in the Eastern region. To further augment urea supply, a plant with annual capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tons will be set up at Namrup, Assam,” the Finance Minister informed.