Patna, Sept. 16: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today expressed worry over the huge 66 per cent gap between demand and production of seeds in the state. He directed the agriculture department to bridge this gap.

He also asked the department to create organic corridors on both banks of the Ganga to promote vegetable cultivation without the use of inorganic fertilisers.

Farmers in Bihar need altogether 15 lakh quintals or 15 crore kg of seeds to sow different crops across the year. But seed production in the state is currently limited to 5 lakh quintals or 5 crore kg. This leaves them at the mercy of private companies that sell seeds at exorbitant prices and unscrupulous retailers who pass off poor quality seeds to them. 'The huge gap should be bridged by strengthening the Bihar State Seed Corporation (BSSC), establishing modern processing units and improving the quality of seeds processed by BSSC so that farmers prefer to buy them,' Nitish said. 'Expert help should be taken as soon as possible for this.'

He also directed agriculture department officials to arrange for storage of seeds in controlled temperature and moisture so that they remain safe for two or more years.

Nitish was speaking while watching a detailed presentation of the agriculture road map for 2017-18 to 2021-22 at a closed-door meeting at which senior ministers and officials were present. The road map is in the last stages of preparation, and suggestions given at today's meeting will be incorporated in it.

The chief minister pointed out to officials that moong (a legume variety mostly eaten as daal) is produced in large quantities in the Kosi division comprising of Supaul, Madhepura, Saharsa districts and asked them to give priority to moong under Mukhyamantri Tivra Beej Vistar Yojana - a seed extension plan, attach these districts and ensure seed production of this variety of legumes.

Nitish had given Bihar its first agriculture road map in 2008, which was for around four years, ending in 2012. A second one, 2012-2017, replaced the road map and the one 'under preparation' now will be the third one for the state.

Famous agriculture scientist and former agricultural adviser to the chief minister, Mangla Rai, suggested making a 'vehicle-based' plan for seed replacement in the hinterland. Under this plan, vehicles will roam across villages providing better seeds to the farmers.

Talking about organic corridors along the Ganga, agriculture department principal secretary Sudhir Kumar told The Telegraph: 'Organic corridors will be created on both banks of the Ganga from Patna to Bhagalpur. We will include vegetable producing villages under them and leave out grain-producing ones. The state government will do the organic certification of the farming and products.'

Sudhir said the chief minister will launch the 'organic corridor' scheme in October-end.

At the meeting, Nitish asked the agriculture department to attach the 'centre of excellence for vegetables' at Chandi in Nalanda district with the horticulture college at Noorsarai. Similarly, he gave directions to attach the 'centre of excellence for fruits' established at Desri in Vaishali district with the nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

He said that agriculture, urban development and housing, water resources and minor water resources departments should coordinate to use treated sewage water for irrigation. Officials said the chief minister directed them to formulate plans to promote cultivation of makhana (fox nut) in Darbhanga, parval (pointed gourd) in Patna and betel leaves in Nalanda, and promote the farming of local varieties of papaya, banana and guava. He also asked them to make computerised arrangements to show market rate of agriculture products to farmers, and also formulate policies to encourage manufacturing of farm implement within the state.