“My ministry's data shows that Rs 785.74 crore was allocated to Bihar to spend on various agricultural schemes, but the state government spent only Rs 386.98 crore. This is not good for the development of agriculture,” said Singh.
Singh said the Union Agriculture ministry has sought land at Muzaffarpur from the Bihar government to establish a fisheries research centre and training centre at Khagaria or Begusarai for maize cultivators.
“Along with these, proposals to open agriculture colleges in Gaya, Munger, Saran and Champaran districts are in the offing. These parts of the state have no agriculture colleges,” he said.
The Union Agriculture minister said he will enquire with the concerned people regarding the reasons behind the delay in converting Rajendra Agriculture University (RAU) at Pusa in Samastipur into a Central university.
“I saw the files. The proposal is hanging fire for the last five years. It was approved by the Planning Commission in 2009 and Rs 1,000 crore was sanctioned. Somehow nothing happened after that. It is a loss for the state,” said Singh.
“I will talk to the Bihar Chief Minister, state Agriculture Minister and other officials in the coming days. I believe having good education and research facilities are necessary for the development of agriculture,” he said.
The Union Agriculture minister said all Bihar districts are present in the contingency plan formed at the Centre for 500 districts in the country to tackle any drought-like conditions that may emerge if there is less than usual rainfall.
He also said that a Bill regarding Central University at Motihari in East Champaran district will be tabled by the NDA government in the Parliament during the monsoon session.
The university will be named after Mahatma Gandhi as he had launched his Satyagraha movement against the British oppression in the country from Champaran itself, he added.
Singh also sought to allay concerns related to deficient monsoon, saying the central government is completely ready to tackle such a situation if it surfaces.
