The Strawberry Vikas Yojana, a component of the Mukhyamantri Bagwani Mission launched by the Department of Agriculture, Bihar, aims to promote commercial horticulture through the expansion of strawberry farming. The scheme supports farmers by providing subsidies on high-quality strawberry seedlings, wooden packaging boxes, and small plastic containers. It is designed to boost production, enhance market competitiveness, and increase the income of fruit farmers in Bihar.
Benefits
• Financial Assistance:
– Farmers receive a subsidy of ₹3,36,000/- per hectare to support strawberry cultivation.
• Subsidized Packaging Materials:
– Wooden Boxes: 40% subsidy (unit cost: ₹11/-; subsidy: ₹4.40/- per piece)
– Small Plastic Boxes: 40% subsidy (unit cost: ₹2.50/-; subsidy: ₹1/- per piece)
• Provision of Quality Seedlings:
– High-quality strawberry seedlings are provided to ensure successful cultivation.
Eligibility
• The applicant must be a resident of Bihar.
• The applicant must be a farmer engaged in agriculture.
• The applicant must be from one of the following districts:
– Gopalganj, Jehanabad, Lakhisarai, Saran, Supaul, Aurangabad, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Katihar, Kishanganj, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, West Champaran, Patna, East Champaran, Purniyan, Samastipur, and Vaishali.
• The applicant must have agricultural land between 0.25 acres (0.1 ha) and 5 acres (2 ha).
• The applicant must be registered on the DBT portal.
• Beneficiary Allocation:
– General Category: 78.56%
– Scheduled Castes: 20%
– Scheduled Tribes: 1.44%
– Women Participation: 30%
• Both ryot farmers (with land documents) and non-ryot farmers (on a contract basis) are eligible.
• Beneficiaries will be selected on a first come, first serve basis.
Application Process
Online – DBT Registration Process:
• Step 01: Visit the registration page of the DBT portal.
• Step 02: Select an Aadhaar verification type: OTP / BIO-AUTH / IRIS.
• Step 03: Enter your Aadhaar number and name (as per Aadhaar), then click “Authentication”.
• Step 04: Enter the OTP and click “Validate OTP”.
• Step 05: Confirm details related to your Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and click “Farmer Registration”.
• Step 06: Fill in all details (farmer details, land information, bank account details) and click “Submit”.
• Step 07: Validate with OTP and click “Register” to generate your 13-digit registration number.
– After 48 hours, you can apply for the scheme using this registration number.
Online Application of the Scheme:
• Step 01: Visit the official website of the Department of Agriculture, Bihar.
• Step 02: Scroll to the bottom, check the box, and click “Proceed to apply”.
• Step 03: In the next page, select your Type of Applicant and enter your DBT Registration Number; click “Get details”.
• Step 04: Fill in the required details (address, land details, etc.) and upload documents.
• Step 05: Confirm the checkbox and click “Submit”.
• Step 06: An Application Number will be generated; keep it for future reference.
• Step 07: A printout of the filled application can be taken using the print option.
Documents Required
• Passport-size Photo
• Aadhaar Card / Voter ID
• Educational Certificate
• Pre-Training Certificate (if applicable)
• Land documents (ownership proof or lease)
• Bank account details
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the Strawberry Vikas Yojana?
A: It is a component of the Mukhyamantri Bagwani Mission designed to promote commercial strawberry farming by providing subsidies for seedlings, packaging materials, and related inputs.
Q: Who is eligible to apply?
A: Farmers in Bihar from the specified districts with land between 0.25 acres and 5 acres, and registered on the DBT portal, are eligible.
Q: What financial assistance is provided?
A: Farmers receive a subsidy of ₹3,36,000/- per hectare to support strawberry cultivation.
Q: What subsidy is provided for packaging materials?
A: Wooden boxes and small plastic boxes receive a 40% subsidy (₹4.40 per piece for wooden boxes and ₹1 per piece for plastic boxes).
Q: Are there reservations for specific groups?
A: Yes, beneficiary allocation includes reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women.
Q: Can tenant farmers apply?
A: Yes, both ryot farmers (based on land documents) and non-ryot farmers (based on contract forms) can apply.
Q: What should farmers do before applying?
A: Ensure you are registered on the DBT portal and have all necessary land and bank documents ready.
Q: Where can I find the application form?
A: The application form is available online on the official website of the Department of Agriculture, Bihar.