Patna: Bihar government on Tuesday decided to establish a research institute in Motihari district to encourage sugarcane cultivation and help farmers increase its quality as well as productivity.
A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of 'agriculture cabinet' presided over by Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.
"The state government will open Institute of Sugarcane Research and Technology at Madhopur in Motihari. It will be spread over 70 acres of land and will work under Rajendra Agricultural University. It will provide a new dimension in sugarcane farming," said Manjhi.
The institute will be a part of the 2012-17 agriculture road map prepared by the state government to give a boost to farming and farmers.
Manjhi conducted an intensive review of agriculture in the state and considered 70 indicators to assess its progress. He directed the officials to bring development in this field to induce quantitative and qualitative improvement in the economic condition of farmers.
The Chief Minister also said that Bihar has been suffering from irregular monsoon for the past many years, which has been hampering paddy cultivation.
"Bihar Agriculture University, Sabour has developed 'ardhajal' variety of paddy, which gives good yield even if the rainfall is very less," said Manjhi and said the paddy variety will be provided to cultivators.
He asked officials to increase the target of 20 lakh tonnes of paddy procurement because the crop is good this time and production is expected to touch 81 lakh tonnes.
Manjhi directed the state cooperative department to form a policy for the location and construction of grain depots, and stressed that they should be made at the headquarters of Primary Agriculture Credit Societies.
The Chief Minister asked the officials to establish government and private tube wells to provide irrigation facilities to the farmers and He also told the officials to ensure that cultivators get electricity connections on a priority basis.
