Chief minister Nitish Kumar with farmer Muneshwar Marandi at Babumahal village on Thursday. Telegraph picture

Patna, Dec. 15: Touring Naxalite-hit Banka district on the south-eastern end of the state, chief minister Nitish Kumar today kept his Seva Yatra focussed on agriculture and horticulture, which he believes constitute the “nucleus” of Bihar’s growth.

Nitish began his three-day sojourn in what is also known as the ultra-Left rebels’ den on Bihar-Jharkhand borders by visiting the orchards and farms of Muneshwar Marandi at Babumahal village in Katoria block. Muneshwar has been awarded with “Kisan Bhushan”for his efforts in integrated farming.

Nitish was impressed to see the rich produce of guava, papaya, lemon, mango and vegetables at Muneshwar’s farm.

Sharing the “secret” of his success in agriculture with the chief minister, Muneshwar said he had derived “lessons and inspiration” from Mihir Mishra, a farmer at Simultala, rather than any agriculture institute or a high-profile scientist.

Muneswhar also informed Nitish that the production of mango, jackfruit, guava, papaya and vegetables on about 32 acres of his farmland had brought “prosperity” to his family.

“Besides, agriculture, I also earn money from fish farming and poultry,” he said.

Nitish suggested Muneshwar and other farmers of the village to include dairy as part of their agriculture activities. “The dairy will require raising the cattle which will yield compost and biogas adding more to your income,” he said.

Nitish made it a point to meet Mihir Mishra and thanked him for his service and advice to other farmers. The chief minister then inspected some irrigation projects in Katoria block with agriculture minister Narendra Singh and other officials.

Banka is known as one of the state’s least-developed districts, dotted with hills, shrubs and rocky landscape. Its geographical location offers “salubrious” climate for the rebels to operate.

Nitish, however, preferred to keep silent on the rebels issue in the region today.

The chief minister had yesterday said providing benefits of welfare schemes to the targeted recipients was on top of his governance agenda.

“It is the topmost priority of the state government to ensure that the needy people receive benefits under various welfare schemes, like pension, houses under Indira Awas Yojana and guaranteed employment under MNREGA,” he said in Saharsa district.

He also expressed displeasure at officials for non-consideration of pension to physically challenged people.

He said the state government had done away with the age limit for grant of pension to the physically challenged. The chief minister directed the officials to carry out a campaign to invite applications for disbursement of pension among the physically challenged and shoot a video of the same.