“The university will implement this scheme in other Maoist-affected areas of the state as well after its successful implementation in Munger,” Choudhary told mediapersons. He added that RAU would start the scheme in the third week of February.
According to Choudhary, RAU has focused more on expanding rural marketing centres in the state. About 1500 such centres have been set up so far while 200 regional centres have been developed to promote rural marketing to benefit farmers.
Besides, RAU has suggested the state government to set up model terminal centres to market agricultural products in a better way.
While Patna has already been developed as a terminal centre, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Muzaffarpur and Purnia are also being developed as such centres in the larger interest of farmers, he said, adding that the establishment of each terminal centre is likely to cost about Rs 100 crore to the state government.
The RAU VC said that horticulture developed a lot in the state in the past five-six years. It has been expanding in an area of about 8000-10000 hectares per year in the state. RAU has launched a mission under the National Horticulture Development Programme to make horticulture a fruitful venture for rural people.
To give an impetus to horticulture in Bihar, RAU, in collaboration with Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Directorate of Horticulture, Bihar, National Horticultural Mission, New Delhi, and National Horticultural Board, Haryana, will hold a two-day seminar in Patna on January 28 and 29 to work out a strategy for development and expansion of horticulture in the state, he added.