The farmers’ meet at Bangalwa village in Munger. Picture by Amit Kumar

Bihar Agriculture University (BAU) in Sabour, celebrating its second birthday on Sunday, has begun to promote farming as an alternative livelihood to people in the Naxalite-affected areas of east Bihar.

The vice-chancellor of the university, Mewa Lal Chowdhury, said: “We have started to encourage residents of various Naxalite-affected villages in the Dharhara block of Munger to adopt agriculture and forestry so that villagers do not join the rebels. Our university is set to partner the authorities in their initiative to check Naxalism through agriculture.”

On Saturday evening, Chowdhury, accompanied by BAU director (extention) S.K. Sohane and a team of agriculture scientists from the varsity, attended a kissan chaupal (farmers’ meet) at Bangalwa village in Dharhara block, 90km west of Bhagalpur and 165km east of Patna. The meet was organised by Munger district officials and BAU.

Hundreds of villagers of various panchayats attended the farmers’ meet. Sources said they were very enthusiastic to share their problems. Munger divisional commissioner S.M. Raju said residents of the area had to face severe water scarcity throughout the year.

“The government has sanctioned nearly 300 wells in the area. The scientists from Bihar could help improve the condition of the people living here,” he said.

The senior officer added that the government was planning to start an afforestation drive for the people under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. More than 2,000 saplings of different fruit trees were distributed among the farmers at the meet. The experts of the varsity also gave tips to the farmers for better yields.