The Bihar government, in a significant move to modernise its rural economy, has launched two major programmes in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The initiatives, named the Bihar Dairy Transformation Project and the Bihar Aquaculture Improvement Programme, were officially unveiled on Tuesday in Patna.
Boosting Rural Livelihoods with Technology
Presiding over the launch event, Minister for Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources, Surendra Mehta, stated that the state government is fully committed to increasing farmers' income. He emphasised that these projects are aligned with the vision of a "Developed Bihar" and will accelerate growth in the dairy, fisheries, and allied sectors in the coming years. A state government official present at the launch told the Times of India that both programmes are designed to boost rural livelihoods, enhance farmers' income, and promote technology-driven, inclusive development.
Strategic Focus of the New Initiatives
Additional Chief Secretary of the department, N Vijayalakshmi, provided details on the scope of the two projects. She explained that the Bihar Dairy Transformation Project will concentrate on several critical areas:
- Fodder security for livestock
- Improved animal breeding practices
- Enhancement of milk quality
- Development of new dairy products
She also highlighted a notable achievement, revealing that exports of Sudha dairy products have now commenced to foreign countries.
Regarding the fisheries sector, the Bihar Aquaculture Improvement Programme will focus on the modernisation and scientific management of aquaculture. Vijayalakshmi noted that modern technologies are being deployed with the support of the Gates Foundation to improve animal health and enhance both milk and fish production across the state.
Alignment with State Development Goals
Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, speaking at the event, pointed out that Bihar has been performing consistently well in the dairy and fisheries sectors. He expressed confidence that the collaboration with the Gates Foundation would further strengthen these vital areas. Importantly, he stated that these projects would make a significant contribution to the state government's 'Seven Resolves – Part-3', a key policy document that was approved by the state cabinet on the same day, Tuesday.
The launch event was attended by Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh, representatives from the Gates Foundation, and several senior departmental officials, underscoring the importance placed on this public-private partnership for Bihar's agricultural future.
