Bihar Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agrawal planting a sapling of Dudhiya mango in Patna.
Patna: To promote innovation and self-reliance in agriculture and horticulture, Secretary of the Bihar Agriculture Department, Sanjay Kumar Agrawal, visited the Agricultural Research Institute in Patna on Tuesday. During his visit, the Secretary reviewed the institute’s process of preparing high-quality plant material for various horticultural crops. He also examined the conservation of mother plants and instructed scientists to ensure the availability of quality plants for farmers.
Agrawal was also briefed on the ongoing process to obtain a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the Dudhiyā Maldah mango. On this occasion, Justice Rajeev Ranjan Prasad of the Patna High Court and the Agriculture Secretary planted a Dudhiyā Maldah mango sapling on the institute campus, sending a strong message towards gaining national recognition for this unique variety.
Support for Conservation of Dudhiyā Maldah Mango
Recognizing the uniqueness of the Dudhiyā Maldah mango, the Secretary conducted a close inspection of the plant quality, mother trees, and the production system. He encouraged the general public to support the conservation and promotion of local varieties by purchasing saplings from the institute. This year, the institute will sell around 5,000 Dudhiyā Maldah saplings starting the first week of July, priced between ₹80–₹100 per plant. In addition, the institute has prepared:
1,000–1,200 Zardalu mango saplings
500–800 Amrapali mango saplings
250–400 Dashehri mango saplings
1,000–1,200 guava saplings
250–300 jackfruit saplings
1,000–1,200 lemon saplings
Agrawal announced that the cultivation of Dudhiyā Maldah mangoes from Digha will be expanded to other districts as well. Each district will receive 200 saplings through the Directorate of Horticulture for plantation. This initiative aims to not only preserve this special variety but also enable farmers to benefit from high-quality fruit production.
Appreciation for Institutional Innovations
The Secretary also visited various departments of the institute, including the Agricultural Technology Information Center, modern nursery, medicinal and aromatic plant cafeteria, guava mother trees, vermicompost unit, and the herbal home showcase. He praised the ongoing innovations in these areas and provided suggestions for further expansion.
Emphasis on Training for Farmers, Women, and Youth
Agrawal instructed the institute to regularly organise training programmes for urban and rural farmers, women, and youth from nearby areas on subjects like vermicomposting, mushroom cultivation, and nursery management. Such training will help participants become agri-entrepreneurs, paving the way for self-reliance in the agriculture sector.
