Bhagalpur: Taking cue from the notebook of Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, the Indian Center of Agricultural Research (ICAR) plans to implement Kisan Choupals all over the country.

The Planning Commission of India has also asked BAU to furnish all details of Kisan Choupals to help incorporate those with agricultural projects in the country. Agricultural minister Prem Kumar, who recently visited Bhagalpur, announced that the government will help to conduct such Kisan Choupals at every panchayat in Bihar.

Kisan Choupal (meeting of farmers) is a traditional meeting of villagers where they sit down and discuss problems and sort out their disputes.

Around 2011, then BAU vice-chancellor (VC) Mewa Lal Choudhary launched such Kisan Choupals through Krish Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) mainly propagate modern techniques in farming and other agriculture-related issues among farmers and villagers of particular areas.

"Since then, every Saturday evening, the varsity arranges Kisan Choupals at 25 places across 21 districts in Bihar falling under the jurisdiction of BAU, Sabour," said R.K. Sohane, director, extension, BAU, Sabour.

Sohane said during such Kisan Choupals, scientists and other concerned persons from the varsity carefully observe the conversations among farmers and villagers and suggest measures for mainly farming and agriculture-related problems. "There are immense opportunities for farmers and villagers to learn many things at such Choupals. Even the varsity experts motivate them to adopt modern scientific techniques. On the other hand, the varsity very easily get the feedback from such Choupals, which is very helpful for us to prepare strategies in many things," Sohane elaborated.

BAU, Sabour VC Ajoy Kumar Singh said the initiative once taken by the varsity proved trustworthy for the villagers. "In every Krishi Choupal, we try to give inputs to farmers with KVK support. The villagers and farmers can learn many things from the videos besides the discussion during the Choupal. Similarly, we also come to know about their problems and it gives us an opportunity to take immediate steps to solve those," he said.

Minister Prem Kumar said the state government had already included Kisan Choupals in the agriculture roadmap. "We have targeted to organise Kisan Choupals in 1976 places in Bihar in five years and Rs 4 crore has been sanctioned for it," he told mediapersons here recently.

According to Ram Dutt, assistant professor in the BAU extension department, the transformation of old traditional concept of ancient villages with modern scientific concepts virtually creates miracles not only among farmers in the region but has got higher institutions like ICAR and the Planning Commission interested.

He said the Planning Commission recently asked BAU to give details about Kisan Choupal so that the concept could be replicated across the country for betterment of agriculture. "Earlier, villagers gathered at the village Choupal in times of need but BAU's initiative has helped solve any agricultural-related problem," said Bateswar Mandalof Ramjanipur village here.