Entrepreneurs to hold talks for ethanol plants in BIHAR

In a bid to make Bihar an ethanol hub, the state government has attracted joint venture of some South East Asian entrepreneurs and an Indian entrepreneur who are to meet the state officials here on June 23 to work out the modalities for establishment of plants for production of ethanol directly from sugar cane and maize.

The State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) has given a nod for such investment and joint venture, named Indian Gasohol, to tap the vast agriculture base of the state for growing more sugar cane as cash crop in 10 districts of the state to ensure its industrial growth through production of ethanol which would be sold to the petroleum companies for blending with petrol.

The Indian Gasohol will establish plants for production of ethanol directly from maize in four districts, according to a senior official of industries department. He added that this industrial venture would generate huge employment.

The Gasohol has planned to go for 25,000 tonnes sugar cane crushing everyday through the 10 plants in 10 districts.

The state government has already requested the Central government to amend the sugar control order by which it had recently banned direct production of ethanol from sugar cane, according to industries minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav. The government of India has already made a mandatory provision for blending of five per cent ethanol with petrol. The Bihar government had decided to make Bihar an ethanol hub to convert its agriculture potential to industrial potential.

The Gasohol would also export ethanol and this would spur industrial development in the state for which the SIPB is trying for, some officials said. The state government has to offer the farmland of Bihar State Sugar Development Corporation at Navanagar in Buxar district to the Gasohol to establish its sugar cane-based ethanol plant.

The Gasohol has sought permission to establish sugar cane-based ethanol plants in Buxar, Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Bikramganj (Rohtas), Gaya, Munger, Araria and Nalanda districts. It is seeking to establish maize-based ethanol plant in four districts, including Vaishali, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur districts, sources said.

India seeks Israeli collaboration for litchi

India has sought collaboration with Israel to enhance the quality of litchi, grown mainly in Bihar, to boost its domestic and export market.

'Collaboration with Israel is in the offing to enhance quality of litchi and to get rid of problem of very short harvesting period,' said Dr K.K. Kumar, director of the National Research Centre for Litchi at Muzaffarpur, about 70 km from here.

India is eyeing technology transfer from Israel for litchi. 'Israel has got technology that will help litchi growers as well as those engaged in its marketing to earn lucrative prices,' Kumar told IANS over telephone.

Dr H. P. Singh, deputy director of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, recently visited Israel in this connection. 'Singh was impressed by the technology when he was told about it during his visit,' Kumar said.

Israel possessed an innovative technology to keep perishable fruits like litchi fresh for at least 28 days. 'Access to this technology will manifold increase earnings through litchi,' he said.

The union Agriculture Ministry plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Israel government for the collaboration soon.

Kumar said litchi suffers from the problem of a very short harvesting period. It also suffers from high post-harvest losses up to 50 percent due to non-availability of suitable post harvest technology and standard packaging. Fading of the natural pink colour of the fruit by the time it reaches distant markets is another significant problem.

About 70 percent of all litchis produced in India are grown in Bihar. The agro-climatic condition of the state is ideal for this fruit. The number of farmers in the state growing litchis has increased in the last decade, especially in Muzaffarpur district and neighbouring areas.

The famous shahi litchi of Muzaffarpur is a variety loved by all. The state government has initiated moves to claim the brand name under the intellectual property rights (IPR) laws. The brand name will benefit farmers who will gain access to more markets and better prices.

But in a recent report, the World Bank noted that litchis good enough for export were being grown in only about 10 percent of the 2,000-odd orchards in Muzaffarpur. Countries that import litchis from India include the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Canada, Russia and Yemen.

Using enterprising methods to achieve success in apiculture

Income generation is important for any agricultural activity. What farmers need is a remunerative income (not minimum income) for their produce, and honeybee rearing fits the slot too well. It has been proven to increase a farmer’s income by 50-60 per cent under favourable conditions.

It requires little investment, no land, and is not labour intensive. It is particularly suited as an income-generating activity for women, young people, and the landless.

Production

Though bee rearing is quite prevalent among many farmers in the country, Bihar seems to top the list as it happens to be the largest producer of honey- producing about 21,000 metric tonnes of honey annually, and has about 20,000 bee keepers who are engaged in honey production.

“A majority of honeybee farmers in Bihar are small producers who are exploited by middle men.

“Most of them either sell the honey to a local cooperative store or to private buyers. Some of them form associations to sell the honey,” said Dr. R.K.P. Singh, Advisor, State Farmers Commission, Patna, Bihar.

Small start

But the story of Mr. Shashi Kumar in Suraheri village, Gaya district, of Bihar is quite different. Starting in a small way by taking a loan of Rs. 10,000 from a local cooperative bank, he set up about 10 bee boxes for rearing Italian bees (Apis mellifera). Today Mr. Sashi, has about 600 bee boxes and earns about Rs. 5,00,000 as net profit per year after meeting all expenses. About 20 persons are presently employed in his farm.

Testing lab

He has also established a honey quality testing laboratory where the produce is tested, processed and packed. His lab is popular among several other honey bee farmers for processing and packaging their product.

But why did he choose this line when livestock or poultry could have been a natural choice? Honey bee rearing does not require huge investments, and to rear these bees one does not require vast acres of land or labour.

You can simply keep the bee boxes in your neighbouring fields and gardens and as many people now know that bees are an important source for pollination and in turn increase the yield they do not object to the presence of these boxes in their lands.

“Initially my father was not receptive to the idea of me starting bee rearing as I had a permanent job in Kolkata. But the ambition to set up my own enterprise and succeed in it made me start this business,” said Mr. Shashi.

Mr. Shashi underwent training programmes in honey production at the Rajendra Agricultural University in the state and at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab. In honey production, one has to move the bee boxes for higher production and survival of bees in slack season to different areas. How did he manage to overcome this critical phase in his business?

“I used to move my boxes to litchi orchards of north Bihar, Patna, Nalanda, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Chattisgarh.”

Marketing

Now, his honey is being marketed under the brand name M/s Shiva Agro-natural Produce Private Ltd, and reputed firms such as Dabur, Kashmir Apiary, and Kalyani Enterprisesrank among his customers.

Mr. Shashi has been conferred the ‘Honour Award’ by the Agricultural Produce Export Development Agency (APEDA) and National Bee Board. The State government conferred on him the ‘Kisan Shree’ award for his contribution to honey production and processing.

He imparts training to farmers for honey production, processing and packaging on his farm.

For more information readers can contact Mr. Shashi Kumar at Vidyarthi Bhawan, Janakpur, Buniyadganj, Gaya, 823003, Bihar and Dr. R.K.P. Singh, Advisor, State Farmers Commission, Pant Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna, Bihar: 800001, mobile 09431245480, email: rkpsingh2k3@rediffmail.com and kisanayog@gmail.com, phone: 0612- 2206169.

Ever heard that Tea is also grown in BIHAR ??

We know Assam, North East and South India as traditional tea growing areas.

Now Bihar also has started tea plantation and LOCHAN TEA LTD. has started first tea estate in Pothia block of Kishanganj district of Bihar . See this video.

Bihar can show the way in farm growth: Swaminathan

It may sound unreal but one of the most backward states in the country, Bihar, has the potential to lead India in the farm sector growth, said National Commission of Farmers' Chairman M S Swaminathan.

"Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Assam have huge untapped potential. And if efforts are made Bihar will lead them," Swaminathan told reporters.

"Bihar and other states of Eastern India are sleeping giants and you only need to wake them up," he added.

To drive home his point, he even invoked Ramayana and said, "The myth about Seeta that Janak found her while ploughing the field itself suggests the fertility of this land and you know that mythical land Janakpuri is in Bihar."

The architect of Green Revolution said, "I call these states fertile crescent of India which have every potential to become the new grainary of India."

His comments come on the backdrop of Finance Minister P Chidambaram saying that the government will take all steps to to ensure 4 per cent farm growh for 10-20 years.

However, the advance estimates put out by the Central Statistical Orgnanisation has projected a moderation in economic growth to 8.7 per cent for the current fiscal on lower growth in agriculture.

According to CSO's, farm sector is estimated to to grow by 2.6 per cent in the year, down from 3.8 per cent in the previous financial year.

Bihar Farmers

Hariharpur (Vaishali), Jan. 23: Those diabetic or on a diet and yet fond of potatoes can thank Bihar farmers.

Vaishali and Patna markets will soon have a newly grown variety of the tuber with three to five per cent less starch than the usual variety.

Lady Roseletta or the LR variety is fast becoming a favourite with Vaishali farmers. Though LR has been around for many years, it’s found a permanent place in Bihar’s fields, mostly in Vaishali, last year. It’s yield has picked up with LR giving three times more yield than usual. Dozens of farmers at Hajipur, Vidupur and Lalganj have taken to growing the variety. Amod Kumar, a farmer of Hariharpur, said: “On an average, LR variety yields 400 mound per acre as against 150 mound from other variety. It’s greener than usual ones.”

Hariharpur grows LR on eight acres and the crop for this year is expected to be ready within a month.

Amod’s father, Bindeshwar Prasad Singh, added that the LR variety contains less sugar because of less water content. He, however, could offer no scientific explanation as to why some farmers would sell it by calling it “sugar-free”.

Programme co-ordinator of Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Haripharpur, Brajesh Shahi, offers an answer to the “misplaced” notion of the sugar-free potato. “No variety of potato can be sugar-free. Bt LR contains two to three per cent less starch than usual local varieties,” said Shahi.

He said varieties such as Chandramukhi, Ashoka, Rajendra Aloo 1, 2 and 3, also have similar characteristics. “But LR seeds are easily available and Vaishali farmers have given it a shot successfully.” LR is also a favourite because its cultivation takes eight to 10 days less than the usual 90-day crop, said Shahi.

Farmers growing LR seem more than happy with the variety because of its “good” yield. Rakesh Singh, a Vidupur farmer, said: “Customers like it. We do not know if it is sugar-free, but I surely believe that it has less sugar.”

This man was once lauded by former chief minister Satyendra Narain Sinha for his "innovative agriculture brain". He was also called annadata at Lalganj where he tilled 14 acre land to grow high-yieldng wheat. But all that was forgotten. But this unsung green revolution man has of late turned to yellow cultivation that makes gold. And do not mistake those "yellow flames" in Hariharpur fields, barely 20 km from Patna, for mustard crops swaying in anticipation of spring.

It is a high-cost local variety of cauliflower seeds, sold across Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra under exclusive Vaishali brand of " satya beej (true seeds)" or Amrit for its absolute organic preparation.

The cauliflower seeds fields have two other simultaneous crops, potato and maize, sharing the same silty loam soil to ensure optimization. The three crops also contribute to each other's nutrition.

All this and more are happening in backyard of state capital at this non-descript Vaishali village.The yellow revolution man of Vaishali is Bindeshwar Prasad Singh (67), a farmer owning just 2.5 acre of land but still making gold. No matter he was not chosen for last year's Kisan Samman by Bihar government, the Indian Vegetable Research Institute at Varanasi gave him silver medal for year 2007.

Since 2001, he has been producing 1.5 quintal to 2 quintal cauliflower seeds from his two acre land. Of late, Singh purchased two more acres of land for Rs 10 lakh at his village to grow more crops. One cauliflower harvest at two acre of land costs him about one lakh rupees. But see his yield -- Rs 10-12 lakh for that. If government comes foward to help brand his seeds, it could go up to Rs 15 lakh. Cauliflower seeds, grown by this farmer, are sold at Rs 7,500-Rs Rs 8,000 per kg as gainst international price of Rs 12,000-Rs 15,000 per kg. Satyabeej producing Early Kuwari cauliflower, is an exclusive Vaishali variety and can well be patented on lines of our Shahi Litchi and Maldah Mango.

About 20 farmers of Hariharpur and surrounding villages have been growing cauliflower seeds.Farmers who emulate his multi-crop method would make fast money. His only son Amod, a first class science graduate, did not even think of looking for a job. "I am very happy helping out my father at fields and want to carry on the experiment a bit further to effect the "yellow revolution" in length and breath of Vaisahli,Samastipur and Darbhanga", said Amod adding "My father was a yard master with petty earning of Rs 700 per month. He had to sell most of our paternal land to support a family of seven".

But it has been a long journey for this unsung hero of Vaishali since 1965. After passing his matriculation in 1956, he took to cultivation out of choice at his share of 2.5 acre. By 1965, when green revolution swept Punjab, he became aware of high-quality seeds of wheat.

Sonra-64, a wheat variety, gave him yield of 28 quintal per acre and that became the turning point for this agriculture enthusiasm.

During 1966-67, he accepted a challenge from then minister Satyendra Narayan Sinha later Bihar CM to show "his feet at his 14 acre Langanj (Vaishali) plot". He stayed at Lalganj from 1966 to 1973 re-iterating his high-yielding feat. But no government laurel came his way. "I was local annadata (grain-provider) for my peers and fellow farmers for teaching them new cultivation method. But no one came forward to take my experimentation method at state level", he rued.

After Rajendra Agriculture Research Institute was set up at the village in 2007, he was provided with technical know-how".The institute's programme coordinator Brajesh Shahi lauded "incredible efforts" of Singh. "Bindeshwar's switching over from chemical cultivation to organic method has worked wonders and is highly sustainable.
The institute, he said, taught him laying Pheromone trap, which has female insects' hormone in a cotton wads, to catch pests. Wooden perches are also erected in fields to invite birds to eat insects.

Bee-hives are also there to help in cross-pollination of cauliflower seeds. Ginger, neem and chilly solutions are used for pest control.Shahi said: "If we can provide farmers foundation seed, it will be automatically ratified by other states giving us international price". At present, Vaishali cauliflower seeds are sold at Rs 7,500 per kg as against branded seeds' rates of Rs 13,000 to Rs 15,000 per kg.Cauliflower seeds are grown between July and mid March, Potato between December and March and Maize between January and May. The field is minus crop only for one and a half month.
Here are the ones who claim to reap rich harvest from cauliflower gold: Alok Chandra Roy, Krishna Chandra Mohan, Rajendra Shah, Mohammed Nayeem and Rajesh Singh. They all salute this green revolution man and wish him fame of Hillman Dasrath Manjhi.

NDRI trains 600 dairy farmers of Bihar

Six hundred dairy farmers from Bihar have been trained by National Dairy Research Insitute to boost milk production in the state.

"The farmers should realise the concept and importance of scientific dairy farming and must adopt latest technology used in breeding, feeding, healthcare and management of cattle," said Sushil Kumar, director of NDRI.

Bihar has got immense potential of improving milk production, Kumar said while addressing the concluding function of the training programme.

The dairy farmers, including 14 women, from 21 districts of Bihar were being trained since last December at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) here on scientific dairy farming.

Sharma also asked the trained farmers to share their knowledge among other dairy farmers of different dairy cooperative societies in the districts.