Patna, 05 January (ABN) Minister of Agriculture Ram Krupal Yadav said on Monday that cluster-based farming of tomatoes, peppers, and garlic will not only increase the income of small and marginal farmers but also establish Bihar as a strong hub for horticulture-based cash crop production, inter-state trade, and exports.

Mr. Yadav said in a statement released today that the state government is making horticulture-based cash crops the foundation of agricultural development with the aim of rapidly and sustainably increasing farmers' income.

He said that cluster-based farming of high-value crops like tomatoes, peppers, and garlic is being promoted on a priority basis, under which one organized cluster is being developed in each panchayat on 15 acres of land.

The Agriculture Minister said that these crops are not limited to production but are also direct sources of cash income, allowing for higher profits in less time. Compared to traditional farming, farmers earn several times more net income from horticulture crops, which is why the state government is giving special priority to the cash crop-based agricultural model.

Mr. Yadav informed that this scheme has been implemented under the Prime Minister's National Agricultural Development Scheme in the financial year 2025-26 and is equally available to both tenant and non-tenant farmers. He said that Bihar's favorable climate, fertile land, and hardworking farmers are a strong foundation for the success of this scheme.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Bihar government has a clear goal that farmers should not only be producers but also become profitable partners in agriculture. Horticulture and cash crops are the most effective means in this direction.

The Agriculture Minister further said that under this program, farmers are being provided with modern, high-yielding, and climate-resilient seeds, scientific and technical guidance, processing, storage, and direct marketing links, as well as access to organized markets through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) so that farmers can get better and stable prices for their produce.

He said that through a transparent DBT system, geo-tagging, and regular physical verification, it is being ensured that the benefits of the scheme reach the actual farmers in a timely manner.

Finally, he said that cluster-based farming of tomatoes, peppers, and garlic will not only increase farmers' income but also play a key role in making Bihar a powerful center for horticulture-based cash crop production, inter-state trade, and exports. This initiative will prove to be a milestone in taking Bihar's agriculture to new heights of income, self-reliance, and modernization.