Most farmers complained about the delay in distribution of subsidised seeds by the local district administrations as well as late procurement of crops, which has compelled them to buy costly seeds and sell their produce at a lower rate.
At a time when farmers across the country are up in arms against their respective state governments, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar shared a lunch with about 2,000 farmers, who were called to Patna to provide suggestions for preparing an agriculture roadmap for the state for the next five years.
The 'Kisan Samagam', as the mega-event was called, bridged the gap between the state government and farmers of Bihar, who put forth their grievances and suggestions before Kumar, his cabinet colleagues and senior bureaucrats on Friday.
Most farmers complained about the delay in distribution of subsidised seeds by the local district administrations as well as late procurement of crops, which has compelled them to buy costly seeds and sell their produce at a lower rate.
The CM assured them that their suggestions will be incorporated in the 'Bihar Krishi Road Map 2022' to initiate an agricultural revolution in the state. Congratulating the farmers on winning Krishi Karman awards, Kumar said, "Bihar has done quite well to boost crop production. Our first Krishi road map has yielded results. But there are shortcomings in the government machinery, which we will overcome."
Kumar, who sat on the floor to share a meal with the farmers in a 'bhandara', said he understood their problems as he also hails from an agricultural background. "Presently, Bihar is not facing a famine-like situation. But, we need to do more to better the condition of our farmers and increase crop production," he said and targeted the Centre for its "half-baked policies" to boost agriculture in the country.
Kumar's move of inviting farmers to know their problems by sharing lunch with them was seen as a message to the BJP, especially in context of the Mandsaur incident in Madhya Pradesh.
A section of the farmers, however, was not happy and staged a day-long fast in Patna on Friday against the "anti-farmer policies of the central and state governments." The protesters threw sacks of onions and milk on the roads as a mark of their protest. "The government is not concerned about us. The Kisan Samagam has been organised in an air-conditioned hall, and not among real farmers," a protesting farmer said.
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