ADB loan to fund 11 agri-biz centres

PATNA: The government has decided to create new agri- business centres on the premises of the state’s 11 marketing yards in 10 districts with the help of Rs 20 crore loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It would strengthen and increase the storage capacity to preserve perishable agriculture produce like vegetables.
Besides, the government has also planned to construct cold stores for the storage of foodgrains and vegetables as part of its plan to strengthen the existing storage facility.
Agriculture minister Narendra Singh said this on Thursday in the state assembly during question hour while giving the government’s reply to a short-notice question of BJP member Amarendra Pratap Singh. According to the minister, additional storage capacity had become imperative due to increase in foodgrains production in the state. During 2009-10 season, the state had produced 1.05 million tonnes of foodgrains alone. Bihar Rajya Bhandar Nigam was creating the storage capacity, the minister said.
He said there was no indication that the Centre would increase the storage capacity of Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns in the state. Therefore, a request was also being made to Rashtriya Bhandar Nigam to increase the capacity of its godowns.
With regard to a question of JD (U) member Izhar Ahmed, the agriculture minister said that Rs 19.51 crore had been allotted to the three districts in Darbhanga division – Darbhanga, Madhubani and Samastipur – for horticulture and related activities in the four successive financial years, beginning 2006-07. Of the sum, Rs 12.32 crore had been shown as utilised. He said the DMs concerned had been asked to find out if the money provided had been properly utilised.
Since House members expressed fears that the money had not been properly utilised, leader of opposition Abdul Bari Siddiqui insisted that the House be provided full details of schemes that had been implemented. The minister agreed to the suggestion.