Agrobased industries to be set up in Bihar : Nitish

Patna, Nov 30(UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today stressed the importance of setting up of agrobased industries in the state as it would enable the farmers to fetch higher prices.

Inaugurating a Makhana processing unit here, Mr Kumar said the state government was committed to setting up agrobased industries which in turn would generate employment as well as contribute in augmenting the internal resources of the state government.

''Role of agrobased industries in accelerating the economic development of the state is vital and the vast potential in this sector is required to be exploited,'' he noted.

Talking about the nutritional and other facets of Makhana, he said all efforts should be made for popularising and marketing it, so that people could be made aware about this wonderful organic product.'' People in developed countries should be made aware that no fertliser is used in production of Makhana which could act as catalyst in its marketing Makhana as they prefer to opt such agro prodcucts'' he observed.

'' Of the 61 proposals for investment of Rs 26,000 crores, Makhana processing unit is the first one which came into being,'' he added and hoped other proposals would also soon take shape.

Addressing the function, deputy chief minister of Bihar, Sushil Kumar Modi said Makhana was an identity of the state and its proper marketing would go a long way in revitalising the agro-economy of the state.'' Loans should be made available to the farmers at low interests and banks should come forward in helping the farmers on this front'' he added.

State agriculture minister Narendra Singh said the government had taken several steps to remove middlemen in marketing of the agro products as they were harming the interest of the farmers.

Like Makhana processing units, other industries like it would also be set up to help the farmers of other agro produce, he added.

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