Chief minister Nitish Kumar offers floral tributes to Swami Sahajanand Saraswati in Patna on Monday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Feb. 20: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today iterated the importance of growth in agriculture and the subsequent farmers’ role in constructing a new Bihar.

Speaking at a function organised to mark the 123rd birth anniversary of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati at SK Memorial Hall, he said inclusive growth would not take place unless the farmers were given a fair chance.

“For me, development is not only about setting up industries. Development will follow when the income of each and every person of the state will rise. For that, agriculture is the only medium and we have to give a fair chance to the farmers. We have to focus on agriculture and have to awake the farmers and only then inclusive growth will follow,” he said.

More than 2,000 farmers had gathered at SK Memorial Hall to observe the 123rd birth anniversary of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, a farmer from Uttar Pradesh. He had mobilised the tillers in Bihar against the zamindari system. A Bhumihar by caste, Saraswati fought against the landlords then.

Citing the example of the agriculture cabinet, Nitish said: “To promote agriculture, we were the first one to form a state cabinet on agriculture. The other states are stepping into our shoes and talking about the development taking place in Bihar.”

He added: “The best example is the recently concluded three-day global summit in which 22 countries had participated and praised the state. Since the beginning (since elected to power), I have been telling that agriculture would be my first priority and not setting up industries.”

Speaking about the agriculture roadmap, the chief minister said: “All important issues regarding the development of the state have been mentioned in the agriculture roadmap, which we have prepared for the next 10 years. It also includes providing electricity in rural areas. It will help the farmers to run their machines and other equipment used in farming. There should not be any confusion because no area has been skipped in the roadmap. Every problem has been addressed.”

He said: “There would not be any problem regarding the resources because we have recently formed a resources management committee under the chief secretary of the state to deal with the issue.”

Nitish also slammed the proposed seed bill. He said the bill was “dangerous and completely against the farmers”.

“Bihar is an agro-based state and most people’s livelihood is based on agriculture. If that is put in danger then where will the farmers go? If this bill is implemented, farmers will be left with no money. It will jeopardise the life of the farmers,” the chief minister said.