Patna: With a view to encouraging
investments and enhancing maize production in the state, the
Bihar government has formed Maize and Poultry Task Force
(Mptf) under state Agricultural Competitiveness Partnership
(Acp).
B Rajender, Director Agriculture, told PTI here today
that about a dozen potential investors from New Delhi, Mumbai,
Kolkata and other places have evinced interest in making
invesments in maize sector and contacted 50 Bihari farmers at
a meet organised by Bihar Industries Association (BIA) here
recently.
The Mptf has formed five working groups to create a
conducive environment for investment in maize sector under
public-private partnership with assistance of the
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank group
with the support of state government.
Senior managers of IFC, Tom Davenport and Gokhan Akinci
assured full help in bringing the investors to the state.
Programme Officer, Investment Climate division, World
Bank group, Samir Stewart said investors from Delhi,
Punjab, Gujarat, Kolkata and Mumbai have evinced interest in
making investment in Bihar.
The Agriculture Director said Bihar was the third largest
maize producer in the country and so far, as production of
maize during rabi season was concerned, the state has
contributed about 60 per cent of the total turnover.
Rajendra said the National Stock Exchange has opened its
Information Centre at Maheshkhoont in Khagaria, the district
known for maize production for organising buyers-sellers
interaction.
He said Bihar farmers get very low return for produce as
it is marketed through middlemen. With investments coming in
the maize sector and facilities of value addition to maize
crops, farmers could get enhanced returns that could change
their economic conditions.
PTI