Patna: The Bihar government is stepping up its drive to modernise agriculture and boost rural incomes by encouraging farmers to diversify into high-value crops such as sweet corn and baby corn.
Announcing the initiative on Tuesday, Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Secretary of the Agriculture Department, said the state is offering generous subsidies—up to 75%—to support farmers willing to make the shift from conventional cultivation. The announcement came during a meeting with Uma Shankar Singh, a progressive farmer from Laxman Nagar in Muzaffarpur district who has adopted banana, turmeric, sweet corn and baby corn farming across 10 acres of land.
“Encouraging such innovative farmers is our priority,” said Agarwal at Krishi Bhawan in Patna. “Diversification and the shift toward value-added crops have the potential to significantly improve farmers’ incomes and bring about transformative change in Bihar’s agricultural sector.”
For the ongoing summer season, baby corn seeds are being made available at 50% subsidy or Rs 500 per kg, while sweet corn seeds are offered at the same rate or Rs 1,500 per kg. The department said the shift towards high-return crops is also a response to growing demand and better market prices, both domestically and internationally.
Officials say Bihar will back the crop diversification push with technical training, field-level support, and stronger marketing linkages. The aim is to ensure that farmers not only grow these crops successfully but are also able to access stable markets for their produce.
Agarwal added, “Promoting crop diversification and value-added agriculture is essential for economic sustainability and resilience. The department is committed to supporting innovation and connecting farmers with modern techniques and emerging opportunities.”
The move reflects a broader strategy by the Bihar government to modernise agriculture in response to climate challenges and price instability. As smallholder farmers across India look for ways to secure better livelihoods, Bihar’s model could provide a blueprint for sustainable agricultural reform.
