In a bid to bolster farmers’ income and rural economic resilience, the government has rolled out two major agricultural support schemes aimed at productivity improvement, market access and inclusive growth across states. The announcements were made as part of ongoing efforts to enhance farmer livelihoods, especially in under-performing regions.
The first of the new initiatives is the Aquaculture Improvement Programme, designed to support fish farmers through better technology, feed quality, extension services and market linkages. By strengthening aquaculture value chains, the programme aims to increase productivity and profitability for producers in coastal and inland regions, aligning with goals under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
The second scheme focuses on rural development and cropping systems support in select districts, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity through improved irrigation, storage facilities, crop diversification and enhanced access to credit. These measures are expected to help farmers increase yields, reduce post-harvest losses and improve overall farm income levels.
Additional chief secretary of the department, N Vijayalakshmi said modern technologies are being deployed with the support of the Gates Foundation to improve animal health and enhance milk and fish production in the state. She noted that exports of Sudha dairy products have now commenced to foreign countries as well.
She explained that the Bihar Dairy Transformation Project would focus on fodder security, animal breeding, milk quality and dairy product development, while the Bihar Aquaculture Improvement Programme would emphasise modernisation and scientific management of the fisheries sector.
Development commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh, representatives of the Gates Foundation and senior departmental officials were present at the event.
Both schemes underscore the government’s continuing focus on raising rural incomes through innovation, better infrastructure and targeted interventions. Experts say that combined with broader reforms and pricing support, these initiatives could help smallholder farmers — including those in livestock and dairy supply chains — capture greater value and withstand market uncertainties.
Dairy Sector Linkage:
While the new aquaculture programme directly targets fish producers, dairy farmers stand to benefit indirectly from the rural development scheme’s push for improved credit access, storage systems and productivity-enhancing support — all of which are critical for dairy value chains too. Enhanced rural infrastructure and stronger market linkages can improve cash flow, reduce cost pressures and create complementary income opportunities for producer households engaged in milk and allied activities.
Source : Dairynews7x7 Jan 13th 2026 TOI