IANS

Patna, Feb 12: Help for Bihar's farmers will soon be only a phone call away with the state government deciding to set up five information centres with toll free numbers.

Agriculture scientists and officials will be available at all the five farmer information centres to provide knowhow as well as help for solving problems, said Bihar Agriculture Minister Renu Kumari.

"Now farmers will be able to collect information relating to cropping patterns, improvement in seeds of high yielding varieties, cultivation practices and the availability of better post harvest technology by just dialling a phone," she said.

She described the decision as a new ray of hope for millions of farmers in Bihar. The five information centres, the minister added, would be set up in different climate zones -- Harnaut in Nalanda district, Biraul in Samastipur, Sabaur in Bhagalpur, Bikramganj in Rohtas and Kevike in Madhepura.

Official sources disclosed that all the centres would be supervised by the Pusa based Rajendra Agriculture University.

Agriculture is the backbone of Bihar's economy, generating nearly 42 percent of the State Domestic Product and employing 81 percent of the workforce.