Lakhisarai/Patna: In a sweeping set of announcements aimed at transforming the agricultural landscape of Bihar’s Lakhisarai district, Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Saturday unveiled a series of initiatives at the Kisan Kalyan Samvad programme, including a modern agricultural market, seed hub, plug nursery, cold storage facilities and micro-irrigation support. The event, held in the presence of senior officials including Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal and Director of Agriculture Nitin Kumar Singh, also served as a platform for direct dialogue with farmers. Women mushroom cultivator Deepika Kumari shared how she earns Rs 6 lakh annually by cultivating mushrooms in 10 Katthas of land, and appealed for improved access to seeds and market linkages. Organic farmers, vegetable growers and onion producers echoed similar demands, calling for specialised storage facilities and fair pricing mechanisms.
Responding to their concerns, the Deputy CM announced the establishment of a Pulses Development Office in Barhiya, a state-of-the-art Rs 15 crore agricultural market in Lakhisarai, and a cold storage network aimed at reducing post-harvest losses. The existing Agricultural Produce Market Committee will be revamped with modern infrastructure, including warehousing, online sales platforms and logistics hubs. One of the centrepieces of the plan is the transformation of Halsi Agricultural Farm into a model seed hub, with Rs 1.5 crore allocated for seed production, processing and packaging. The hub is expected to ensure the availability of pure, low-cost seeds locally and will support farmers engaged in seed production through financial assistance and government procurement.
Additionally, a Rs 1.04 crore plug nursery will be set up at Halsi to promote horticulture by supplying quality vegetable seedlings and saplings. Farmers will also benefit from government-backed ventures in beekeeping, spice farming, floriculture and tissue culture-based fruit farming.Addressing the issue of persistent fertiliser shortages, Sinha announced plans to establish a rail rack point in Lakhisarai to streamline the delivery of urea and DAP directly to the district. The procedural groundwork for this has already been completed, and a formal request has been submitted to the Union government. Reaffirming the state’s commitment to water-efficient agriculture, the Deputy CM also outlined plans for the expansion of micro-irrigation systems, construction of ponds and wells, and the establishment of agricultural machinery banks to assist small and marginal farmers. “This is not just a day of recognition—it’s a salute to the resilience and determination of our farmers,” Sinha said in his address. “Today’s Bihar is marching confidently towards self-reliance, and our farmers are leading the way.”
