1168 Farmers Shortlisted for Phase II of Organic Farming in 7 Blocks of Bhagalpur, Bihar

The organic corridor encompasses a diverse range of agricultural activities, including the cultivation of paddy, the exclusive variety of katarni rice, various vegetables, and horticultural products such as mangoes and bananas.

The primary goal is to establish a strong connection between farmers and government schemes that aim to enhance organic and biodynamic farming for sustainable agriculture. This is facilitated through a comprehensive support system provided by the department, as well as by raising awareness about the pressing need for organic farming.

The district agriculture office has allocated 1500 acres of land for the implementation of the organic corridor in the region's second phase. In total, 1,168 farmers who have expressed a keen interest in organic farming have been carefully selected and organized into 15 groups across the seven blocks of Jagdishpur, Nathnagar, Sultanganj, Sahkund, Kahalgaon, Pirpainty, and Kharik.

Anil Kumar Yadav, the district agriculture officer of Bhagalpur, stated that their project's focus was to supply and distribute organic inputs to the targeted farmers. ‘organic inputs’ encompass various substances derived from the processing of plant and animal products, including compost, neem cake, decomposed cow dung and urine, biofertilizers, vermi-compost, green compost, and other equipment necessary for producing organic fertilizers.

Yadav emphasized the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which contribute to soil degradation and pose significant health risks to farmers. He stressed the importance of organic farming in ensuring sustainable agriculture and highlighted that farmers are eligible for government grants to aid in the procurement of organic inputs.

Numerous organic farming groups have been established as part of this initiative, each dedicated to a specific type of farming. These groups include the Jagdishpur Jaivik Katarni Dhan Utpadak Sangh, Kajraili Jaivik Corridor, Ratanpur Jaivik Katarni Dhan Krishak, Kishanpur Jaivik Sabji Utpadak Samuh, Kheraihya Jaivik Krishak Hit Samuh, Ashiyachak Jaivik Krishak, Jagariya Jaivik Krishak, Kurma Jaivik Sabji Utpadak, Kairiya Jaivik Corridor, Hardevchak Jaivik Udyanik Fasal Krishak, Pyalapur Jaivik Corridor, Olapur Jaivik Krishak, Naya Tola Khairpur Sabji Utpadak, Usmanpur Jaivik Sabji Utpadak, and Tulsipur Jaivik Kela Utpadak Samuh. These groups collectively contribute to the organic farming efforts in the Bhagalpur region.

Yadav also made it clear that strict action would be taken against coordinators who fail to fulfill their responsibility of providing the required organic inputs to the farmers.