The National Agricultural Development Planning, at its regional meeting at Hotel Maurya in Patna on Tuesday, announced its decision to provide Rs. 60 crore to Bihar for implementing a number of agricultural schemes in the state.
Inaugurating the event comprising officials from Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, and Andaman Nicobar, the NADP commissioner R. J. M. Pillai said while the Center would immediately release Rs. 15 crore, the remainder of the Rs. 60 crore would be made available after reviewing the effectiveness of the scheme.
P. K. Basu, the Additional Secretary of the Agricultural Ministry, said it was up to the individual states to take full advantage of the federal schemes and derive maximum benefit from the available funding.
"The goal is to increase the contribution of agriculture in the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation," Basu said adding the Rs. 60 crore earmarked for Bihar was over and above the funding earlier set aside for Bihar for development in the agricultural sector.
Besides Rs. 60 crore for Bihar, the NADP has allocated Rs. 60 crore each for Jharkhand and West Bengal, Rs. 43 crore for Orissa, and Rs. 9.5 crore for Anadaman Nicobar.
Bihar Agriculture Commissioner S. Madhavan, however, expressed his frustration over the amount allocated for the state.
"Everyone knows that Bihar has more agricultural land than Jharkhand so why both states have been given the same amount for improvement in the farming sector is beyond our understanding," Madhvan said.
Source:http://www.patnadaily.com,27-11-07
