As part of the ongoing ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on the fifth day of the campaign, interacted with farmers at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Piprakothi, East Champaran, Bihar. In his continued efforts of interacting with the farmers from Odisha, Jammu, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, Shri Chouhan engaged with the farming community of Bihar today.
Chouhan highlighted that due to the Prime Minister’s effective policies, maize cultivation in Bihar has surged. With the introduction of ethanol production, the demand and prices for maize have increased. Where maize once sold for ₹1200–₹1500 per quintal, prices have now gone up significantly. Yields have also improved—from 23–24 quintals per hectare earlier to 50–60 quintals per hectare now.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister described Piprakothi in East Champaran as a sacred land, emphasizing that it was from this very soil that Mahatma Gandhi delivered his profound message of Satyagraha and non-violence to the world. He expressed deep reverence for the region and said that under the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several initiatives, including the establishment of a Krishi Vigyan Kendra, have contributed to agricultural advancement here. He recalled how this very land became a battleground for justice when the British oppressed local farmers and how Gandhiji’s movement from here laid the foundation for India’s freedom struggle.
Shri Chouhan emphasized that the true meaning of an Agriculture Minister is to be the foremost servant of farmers. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, and farmers are its soul. He stated that the Prime Minister’s vision of a developed India can only be realized through developed agriculture and prosperous farmers, and collective effort is essential in this mission. During the visit, he interacted specifically with litchi growers who raised concerns about the fruit perishing within 48 hours, resulting in losses. He assured them that the government would take concrete steps to address the issue and directed ICAR scientists to conduct research to develop techniques that extend the shelf life of litchis so that farmers receive fair prices. He also spoke about increasing the number of cold storage facilities to support this effort.
Addressing concerns over counterfeit pesticides, he asserted that strict action will be taken against companies producing fake agrochemicals. No one will be spared, he assured. Shri Chouhan said that ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ is an initiative to create miracles in agriculture and to bridge the gap between research labs and agricultural fields. Under the campaign, 16,000 scientists are stepping out of their labs to engage directly with farmers in villages.
The event was attended by a large number of farmers, along with MP Shri Radha Mohan Singh, local MLAs, scientists, and government officials.
(Source: PIB)
