Patna: Riding on the successful export of Bihar’s premium mango varieties to international markets this season, agriculture minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Friday inaugurated the three-day Aam Mahotsav-2026 in Patna and highlighted the growing potential of horticulture as a profitable avenue for farmers.The festival is being held at the Bihar Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute (BAMETI) campus.Addressing farmers, horticulturists and agricultural experts, Sinha said horticulture could serve as an “ATM for farmers” by ensuring regular and higher returns. He added that the state govt would soon unveil its agricultural export policy to boost exports of farm produce from Bihar.Sinha said the office of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has already been established in Patna, while an export pack house at Bihta has received the necessary licence, paving the way for fruit exports from the state.Highlighting recent achievements, he said 19 metric tonnes (MT) of Bihar’s mango varieties, including Jardalu, Bambaiya and Dudhiya Malda, were exported to Dubai in two containers on June 12, with five more containers scheduled to be shipped soon.In addition, 8.5 MT of Jardalu and Dudhiya Malda mangoes from Banka district have been exported to the United States, while 10 MT of litchi has been sent to Dubai. Sinha said improved post-harvest technology has increased the shelf life of litchi to 45 days, significantly enhancing its export potential.He noted that India contributes nearly 45% of global mango production and said Bihar’s GI-tagged Jardalu mango, along with Dudhiya Malda, has carved out a niche in domestic and international markets.For the first time, the festival is also showcasing live demonstrations on the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology for pest management and disease control in horticulture crops.
