Bihar Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha
By A Correspondent
Patna: Bihar Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Friday directed Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, to expedite recruitment against vacant teaching and non-teaching posts, ensure 100 per cent admissions in agricultural colleges and strengthen natural farming, agricultural entrepreneurship and research, while reviewing the university’s academic, administrative and financial performance.
The minister chaired a review meeting at his office in Krishi Bhavan, where the university’s academic, research, extension, administrative and financial activities were examined in detail. He issued a series of directives aimed at making agricultural education more employment-oriented, research-driven and beneficial to farmers.
Expressing concern over the large number of vacant teaching and non-teaching positions, Sinha instructed officials to prepare a list of vacancies and ensure they are filled at the earliest through the Bihar Public Service Commission and the Bihar Staff Selection Commission in accordance with established procedures.
Reviewing admissions in agricultural colleges, the Vijay Kumar Sinha directed that waiting lists be prepared to ensure all available seats across the state’s agricultural colleges are filled. He also stressed the need to widely publicise employment opportunities, start-ups, entrepreneurship prospects and government schemes related to agriculture to encourage more students to pursue agricultural education.
The minister emphasised the need to transform natural farming into a mass movement across the state and called for active participation of agricultural students. Expressing concern over the excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, he directed that students be involved in promoting natural farming and participating in farmer training programmes.
He further instructed all agricultural colleges to organise special sessions on Agri Stack, Farmer ID, soil testing and natural farming to familiarise students with modern agricultural technologies while accelerating the Agri Stack-Farmer ID campaign. He also asked officials to link agriculture students with mini soil testing laboratories established in government schools to provide practical training.
The meeting also focused on promoting agriculture-based start-ups and innovation. Sinha directed the university to extend additional support to start-ups developed on campus and coordinate with the Industries Department to encourage agricultural entrepreneurship. He said agricultural graduates should be provided with a conducive environment for self-employment and innovation.
To revive nurseries across the state, the minister instructed that students trained in nursery management and other skilled youth be associated with nursery development. He said modern nursery management and quality planting material would enhance farmers’ returns.
The minister also reviewed the university’s tendering process and directed that all tenders be conducted transparently and in full compliance with rules, with periodic reviews to ensure accountability.
He instructed the Agriculture Department and university scientists and officials to hold joint meetings before the kharif, rabi and summer cropping seasons to determine research priorities. He said the development of new crop varieties should prioritise farmers’ needs, higher incomes, climate resilience and increased productivity.
Sinha also directed that the university’s food testing laboratory be upgraded to meet modern infrastructure and high-quality standards. He stressed that agriculture graduates should be given priority in the implementation of various Agriculture Department schemes.
The meeting further directed that all Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the state be made free from encroachment and that investigation reports be submitted to the department at the earliest.
The minister said the Bihar government remained fully committed to promoting agricultural education, research, innovation, natural farming, modern technology and agricultural entrepreneurship. He said universities and agricultural institutions had a crucial role in increasing farmers’ incomes, creating employment opportunities for youth and making Bihar a leading agricultural state, while directing officials to ensure the timely implementation of all decisions.
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