Bihar State PCS

• 10 Jul 2023

Duration of Organic Corridor Scheme extended in Bihar

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on July 9, 2023, the period of the ongoing organic corridor scheme in 13 districts of Bihar has been extended. Now this scheme will run till 2025.

Key Points:

• It is known that earlier the period of the organic corridor scheme was till 2022-23.
• Under the organic corridor scheme, a total of 20,000 acres in selected 13 districts of the state will be made fully organic areas as per the standard of the National Program on Organic Production (NPOP).
• It is known that biological corridors have been made in Patna, Buxar, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur, Khagaria, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Bhagalpur, Munger, Katihar and Nalanda located on the banks of river Ganga. Biological corridors have been made an important component of water-life greenery.
• Organic farming will be promoted as a cluster. Under this, the health and quality of the soil will be protected by agricultural ecosystem management, free from harmful substances. Infrastructure will also be provided to the farmers.
• At present, organic farming is being done in 17507.363 acres in these districts. The Bihar State Biological Mission is monitoring it.
• Under this scheme, farmers will be given a grant of Rs 11500 per acre in the first year. Also, in the second and third years, a grant of Rs 6500-6500 per acre will be given.
• Common Facility Center will be constructed under this scheme. Isolation vans, refrigerated vans will be provided at a 75 percent subsidy. Marketing of organic products will also be done through the agency. This will enable farmers to get a fair price for their produce.
• An organic incentive scheme will be run in 38 districts of the state to produce poison-free food. Under this, the cost price of crops will be reduced and productivity will be increased. This will increase the income of farmers.
• Under this scheme, farmers will get subsidies for the construction of vermicompost, and commercial vermicompost units. For vermicompost, 50 percent of the cost or a maximum of Five thousand rupees per unit subsidy will be given.
• At the same time, a maximum grant of Rs 6.40 lakh will be given for commercial vermicompost manufacturing. The amount will be paid in three instalments to the beneficiaries of commercial vermicompost.

Financial Clearance to 19 Investment Proposals worth more than 2 Crores in various Industrial Areas

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on July 9, 2023, the Investment Promotion Council has given financial clearance to 19 investment proposals worth more than Rs 2 crore in various industrial areas of Bihar, in which an investment of Rs 156 crore is proposed.

Key Points:

• The investing entity has achieved financial convenience and eligibility for grants from the bank and the government. Now it can have financial help and bring the investment on the ground according to the proposal.
• In the field of food processing, some new investments are going to be made in Bihar, which will include chips and snacks in Daniyawan, Patna, juice and soft drinks in Barari in Bhagalpur and potato chips unit in Gaya.
• The highest investment is in the food processing and health sector. The financial proposals that have been given financial approval include areas of snacks, chips, crisps, soft drinks, fruit drinks and bakeries.
• Investments will be made in these places:
  • A chips and snacks-making plant will be set up at Daniyawan in the Patna district. Its investment proposal is Rs 66.99 crore.
  • An investment of Rs 38.61 crore has been proposed for the production of salty crispy potato chips in Hajipur industrial area of Vaishali district.
  • An investment of Rs 11.13 crore has been proposed in the field of fruit juice and soft drinks in Bhagalpur Barari Industrial Area.
  • An investment of Rs 10.34 crore has been proposed for sweet, bakery and namkeen production in Pataliputra Industrial Area in Patna district.
  • A plant worth about Rs 10 crore will be set up in Gaya district for potato chips production.
  • An investment of over Rs 10.86 crore is to be made for the spread of rice in Berhampur area of Buxar district.
  • In the healthcare sector, an investment of over Rs 23.35 crore has been proposed for the construction of a 65-bed hospital at Zoran Chhapra in Muzaffarpur and over Rs 4 crore for setting up a 100-bed hospital at Lahariaganj in Madhubani.
• Apart from this, green signal has been given to investment proposals of the general manufacturing sector in these proposals.