Bihar is all set to launch the Rabi campaign to boost the production of cereals, pulses and oilseeds as the state government on Wednesday fixed a target area of 39.8 lakh hectares for the cultivation of winter crops.

“We have fixed a target of Rabi cultivation on 39.8 lakh hectares in the state of which wheat will be planted on 26.15 lakh hectares, followed by maize on 8 lakh hectares and pulses on 5.4 lakh hectares. Oilseeds, including mustard and flaxseed, will be cultivated on 2.4 lakh hectares,” state agriculture minister Mangal Pandey said.

After inaugurating a state-level workshop on the Rabi campaign, Pandey said that the aim of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was to increase the income capacity of the farmers and double their income.

“We have decided to implement several programmes to increase the production and productivity of Rabi crops under the guidance of chief minister Nitish Kumar. The farmers will be given the technical training required to improve cultivation,” Pandey added.

He also pointed out that the farmers would be made aware of the government agricultural schemes and a transparent distribution of various requirements for farming would be ensured.

Bihar will require around 4.71 lakh quintals of seeds of wheat, gram, peas, lentils, flaxseed, and mustard crops at the time of sowing. So far 76,574 quintals of seeds have been supplied and distributed among the farmers. The state government has provided a subsidy of ₹225 crore on seeds.

Pandey said that efforts were on to increase the production of pulses to make the country self-dependent.