Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Agriculture Minister, Bihar Vijay Kumar Sinha said that the Papaya Development Scheme has been approved for a total period of two years from 2025-26 to 2026-27 under the Integrated Horticulture Development Mission (MIDH). A total cost of 01 crore 50 lakh 75 thousand rupees will be spent on this scheme. Under this, withdrawal and expenditure of Rs 90 lakh 45 thousand has been approved in the financial year 2025-26.
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He said that the scheme is centrally sponsored, with the contribution of the Center and the state 40-40 percent. Along with this, a provision of 20 percent additional top-up has also been made from the State Plan item, which will give more benefits to the farmers. The main objective of this scheme is to increase the area of papaya cultivation, increase production and productivity and ensure increase in farmers’ income. The Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister said that the grant amount given to farmers under the Papaya Area Extension Scheme will be paid in 60: 40 ratio in two years. Under this scheme, a unit cost of 75 thousand rupees per hectare is proposed for papaya cultivation. Papaya production has been arranged for planting 2.2 meters at a distance of 2.2 meters, which will require about 2500 plants per hectare.
He further said that according to the guide of the Government of India at the cost of Rs 75 thousand per hectare, 40 percent grant and additional 20 percent top-up from the state plan will be made available to farmers with a total of 60 percent i.e. 45 thousand rupees per hectare. This amount will be given in two installments, in which Rs 27 thousand per hectare will be given as first installment and Rs 18 thousand per hectare as second installment.
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Shri Sinha said that the scheme will be implemented in 22 districts of Bhojpur, Buxar, Gopalganj, Jehanabad, Lakhisarai, Madhepura, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Katihar, Khagaria, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, West Champaran, Patna, Patna, East Champaran, Purnia, Saharsa, Samastipur, Madhubani and Vaulhi. Farmers will get the benefit of the scheme from minimum 0.25 acres (0.1 hectare) to a maximum of 5 acres (2 hectares). The Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister expressed confidence that the successful implementation of the Papaya Vikas Yojana will give a new direction to the horticulture sector in the state. This will increase production and productivity and there will be significant improvement in farmers’ income.