MAKHANA BOARD TO BE ESTABLISHED IN BIHAR
North News
New Delhi, February 1
The Union Budget 2025-26, presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, prioritized agriculture as the key driver of India’s development, announcing major initiatives to enhance farm productivity and rural income. To support farmers, fishermen, and dairy producers, the government increased the loan limit under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme for Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh. Sitharaman highlighted that KCC loans benefit approximately 7.7 crore individuals.
The budget also proposed the establishment of a new urea plant in Namrup, Assam, with an annual capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tons. This move aligns with India’s goal of self-reliance in fertilizer production and follows the reopening of three dormant urea plants in the eastern region.
In Bihar, the government will set up a Makhana Board to boost production, processing, and marketing of makhana. The board will help farmers organize into Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), receive training, and access government schemes.
A National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds will be launched to strengthen research and develop climate-resilient, pest-resistant seeds. More than 100 new seed varieties released since July 2024 will be made commercially available under this initiative.
To safeguard genetic resources and ensure food security, the government will establish India’s second Gene Bank with a capacity of 10 lakh germplasm lines.
Sitharaman also announced the ‘Mission for Cotton Productivity,’ a five-year plan aimed at improving cotton farming through advanced technology and promoting extra-long staple cotton varieties. The initiative aligns with the government’s 5F vision for the textile sector and aims to increase farmer incomes while securing a steady supply of quality cotton for India’s traditional textile industry.
