Bihar Govt ignorant about decreasing fertility of land:minister

Patna, Mar 10 (UNI) Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh today admitted the state government's ignorance about decreasing fertility of agrarian land in Bihar.

Replying to a short notice question of RJD member Nawal Kishore Yadav at the state Legislative Council, Mr Singh said the government had not received any information about the decreasing fertility of agricultural land in Bihar.

He, however, said the government was trying to encourage farmers to use compost fertilisers and manure to improve the fertility of land. ''We are also extending grants to the affected farmers for improving land fertility,''he said.

Replying to another short notice question of CPM member Basudeo Singh, the minister said the state government had paid compensation of Rs 3.20 lakh to the farmers for loss of standing crops at Rajwara panchayat under Barauni block in Begusarai district.

In reply to a starred question of Congress member Mahachandra Prasad Singh, the minister informed the House that gram is cultivated in 72,812 hectares in the state while Mokama Tal area alone constitutes 10,069 hectares of gram cultivation area, which is 14 per cent of the total cultivation area of gram crops.

UNI KKS-RS-ABA PL RN1831