PM to launch Bihar agriculture plan

NEW DELHI: PM Manmohan Singh has accepted Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's invitation to visit the state and launch a massive agricultural plan devised by the state government.

Demanding the Centre's support, Kumar said Bihar had declared 2008 as "agriculture year" and had drawn up a roadmap after consultation with specialists in the agricultural field. "We recognise that for Bihar to achieve its own 11th plan targets of 8.5% GDP growth, agriculture must grow at higher than national growth trends," the CM said.

The state government has prepared a "roadmap for agriculture sector" which recognised that farm incomes could be doubled with forays into horticulture, fisheries, dairy, animal husbandry and cooperatives.

Nitish said agricultural productivity in the state was expected to increase in rice from 14.86 quintals per hectare to 27.92 quintals per hectare, wheat from 25.55 quintals per hectare to 30.50 quintals per hectare and maize from 26.71 quintals to 35.25 quintals per hectare.

Emphasising the need for credible seed replacement, transfer of technology and marketing support, Kumar said these would be extended to cultivation of mango, lichi, guava, banana and sugarcane besides vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, onion, brinjal and peas.