Patna: In a bid to enhance the welfare of farmers across Bihar, Mr Vijay Kumar Sinha, the Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister, along with Dr. Prem Kumar, the Minister of Cooperation, held a joint meeting on Thursday at Krishi Bhavan.
The meeting focused on coordinating the schemes of both the Agriculture and Cooperation Departments to provide greater benefits to farmers, ensuring a more integrated and efficient approach.
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Cooperative Societies to Play Key Role in Agricultural Development
A significant part of the discussion centered around improving the role of cooperative societies in managing joint schemes between the two departments. The meeting explored ways to enhance the distribution processes of critical inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, while also addressing concerns regarding the current bottlenecks faced by the PAX (Panchayat Agriculture Societies).
One of the key issues raised was the delay in issuing licenses to PAX for fertilizer distribution. The delay is attributed to the slow process of training for PAX members. To resolve this, the Deputy Chief Minister proposed a year-long training calendar, ensuring that PAX members receive timely training and can acquire licenses faster. Additionally, the Agriculture Minister assured that seed licenses would be prioritized, with a more streamlined application process, allowing for online applications and faster approvals.
Coordinated Support for Beekeeping and Vegetable Production
The meeting also addressed the development of niche agricultural sectors such as beekeeping. The Cooperation Department proposed providing training and distribution of boxes to 144 block-level honey producer and marketing cooperative societies in Bihar. This initiative will enable these societies to strengthen their production capabilities and ensure they have the necessary resources for continued growth.
Further, the ministers discussed improving the facilities for vegetable producers. The Agriculture Department offers refrigerated vans to transport vegetables with a 50% subsidy. The meeting resolved to prioritize block-level vegetable producer cooperative societies for this scheme, ensuring better transportation and market access for farmers.
Soil Health and Credit Expansion
In another critical decision, the meeting agreed to train PAX members on soil testing and authorize them to issue Soil Health Cards. This initiative aims to provide farmers with accurate, timely information on soil health, enabling better agricultural practices.
In terms of financial support, Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) were also discussed. The Agriculture Secretary emphasized extending KCC benefits to more farmers through cooperative banks to ensure they receive the necessary credit for agricultural activities. The Cooperative Department Secretary supported this move, underscoring the importance of easy access to credit for farmers.
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Collaboration for Effective Agricultural Development
The meeting was attended by senior officials from both departments, including Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, Secretary of the Agriculture Department, and Mr. Dharmendra Singh, Secretary of the Cooperative Department, along with other key members such as Mrs. Inayat Khan, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and Shri Lalan Kumar Sharma, Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies.
Both ministers expressed their commitment to furthering agricultural development in Bihar through coordinated efforts, with a focus on increased self-reliance for farmers and fostering sustainable agricultural practices.
