UNESCO to develop agricultural township,first in India, in diara near Patna

UNESCO to develop agricultural township
in diara near Patna

Patna,(BiharTimes): UNESCO’s University Twining and Networking (UNITWIN) programme will soon develop Akilpur diara, a village in Patna district, as the first agricultural township of the country. UNITWIN is designed to enhance global knowledge capacity through connectivity and sharing. According to Young Gil Lee, the director of Korean Centre of International Co-operation, research scholars of Handong Global University and Canaan Farmers School are at present working in the village to promote organic farming for better agricultural production. At a lecture on natural farming in A N College on Friday he said Bihar had a huge agricultural potential and the equivalent manpower, as majority of its population is involved in farming. “We are working in Bihar for the past 14 years. In an effort to develop this state as an agricultural landmark of the entire world, we plan to build an agricultural city at Akilpur diara with the help of Korean agencies,” he added. Akilpur diara has been chosen for its holistic regional development in education, ecological conservation, health, organic farming and creativity. Sung Keun Joh, another research scholar from Seoul National University is also here with five South Korean students to work at Akilpur diara village for a year. He said the state has a majority of favourable factors, including soil and skilled farmers, for good agricultural production. However, excessive use of chemicals and fertilisers may prove hazardous in the long run. Such practices pose severe environment and health hazards. Replacement of chemicals and fertilisers with innovative organic farming may keep up the fertility of the soil and maintain good production in the long run, he added. The South Korean team also showed videos, Power Point presentation, the use of agricultural equipment and the ways the farmers can reach the international market and sell their products. A lecture on natural farming was organised for the villagers of Akilpur diara on Saturday.