Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Inaugurates Aam Mahotsav in Patna

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the Aam Mahotsav at Gyan Bhavan in Patna on Saturday, accompanied by Agriculture Minister Mangal Pandey. The festival, organized by the Department of Agriculture, aims to promote and brand the state’s mango varieties. The two-day event will showcase a diverse array of mangoes grown across Bihar.

In his address, CM Nitish emphasized the importance of encouraging farmers to cultivate new varieties of mangoes. He noted that the State Level Aam Mahotsav 2024 is designed to be both informative and entertaining, with efforts made to engage and educate visitors.

Agriculture Minister Mangal Pandey also took the opportunity to comment on the ongoing investigation into the NEET paper leak case, assuring that those found guilty will face appropriate action.

The festival aims to inspire farmers to adopt new mango varieties. Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal highlighted that Bihar has 1.63 lakh hectares of mango orchards, producing 15.76 lakh tonnes of mangoes annually. However, the short harvesting period of 4-5 months often leads to overproduction and significant post-harvest losses.

Farmers attending the festival expressed their appreciation for the event, noting that it provides a valuable market for their produce and boosts their morale. They also gain insights into both new and traditional mango varieties, which helps them improve their farming practices.

The exhibition features displays of mangoes and mango-based products from various districts across the state. A total of 4,578 exhibits of early, mid-season, late, hybrid, and colored mango varieties, as well as the esteemed Biju mango, are on display. The exhibition has seen enthusiastic participation from farmers, fostering healthy competition.

Notable mango varieties exhibited include 1,357 specimens of Zardaloo, Mithua, Gulab Khas, Surkh Verma, Sundar Prasad, Jarda, Bombay, Rani Pash, and Gopalbhog in the early varieties category. Mid-season varieties feature 1,367 exhibits of Langda Malda, Hemsagar, Aman Ibrahimpur, Krishnabhog, Alphonso, Dashari, Husn-i-Ara, Khasulkhas, Benazir, and Abeyhayat. Late-season varieties include 667 specimens of Fazli, Sukul, Sepia, Samrabhist, Chausa, and Taimuria, while the hybrid category showcases 586 exhibits of Mahmood Bahar, Prabhashankar, Mallika, and Amrapali.