Patna: A three-day Horticulture Festival commenced at Gandhi Maidan on Friday, with a focus on promoting innovative agricultural practices and marketing opportunities. Inaugurating the event, Agriculture Minister Mangal Pandey announced plans to introduce an incentive policy for honey production and marketing in Bihar.
The new policy aims to support honey production from various sources, including fruits and flowers like sunflower, drumstick, mustard, and litchi. Special attention will be given to involving landless farmers in honey production, Pandey said. “Turmeric is already cultivated extensively in the state. Now, we will expand to other spices, with agricultural scientists conducting research to boost spice cultivation,” he added.
The minister highlighted that horticultural crops are currently grown on 13.5 lakh hectares in Bihar, yielding approximately 286.45 lakh metric tonnes of fruits, flowers, and vegetables annually. The state aims to increase this output in the coming years.
Tomatoes and Eggplants on a Single Plant
A unique attraction at the festival is a plant capable of producing both tomatoes and brinjals, drawing significant interest from visitors. As part of the rooftop gardening scheme, 30 plants, along with pots, are being offered for Rs 2,250. These include fruit, flower, vegetable, and medicinal plants, with the Agriculture Department providing care for six months.
To promote urban greenery, Agriculture Minister Mangal Pandey himself purchased 30 plants under the scheme, emphasizing its potential to enhance city landscapes.
Over 14,000 Products on Display
Around 1,500 farmers from across the state have participated in the festival, showcasing more than 14,000 products. The event features 60 stalls offering a variety of items, including seeds, seedlings, plants, pots, honey, makhana, and mushrooms.
Visitors can purchase their choice of horticultural products and learn more about innovative farming techniques. Prominent figures such as Sanjay Agarwal, Amitabh Kumar, Abhishek Kumar, and Rajkumari Devi, affectionately known as “farmer aunt,” attended the inaugural ceremony.
