The Tamil Nadu Agriculture University team led by its former Dean (Horticulture) V Punnuswami gave a presentation of food items like jaggery, candy, honey and other products that could be manufactured from 'neera' (palm tree juice before fermentation) and 'toddy' (after fermentation), an official release said here.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed between the southern university and Bihar Agriculture University at Sabour in Bhagalpur to work together.
Following the presentation, Kumar ordered officials to prepare an action plan on industries related to Neera, the release said.
The CM said the number of palm trees in the state and the amount of 'neera' produced from them should be ascertained while preparing the action plan.
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While announcing complete ban on sale and manufacture of alcohol in the state on April 5, Kumar had made it clear that sale of 'toddy' would be permitted in accordance with a 1991 guideline, but plans would be made for commercially harnessing 'neera' which does not contain alcohol.
Opposition parties created a hue and cry alleging that the income of Pasi community traditionally engaged with toddy trade would be hard bit.
However, Kumar then said, state government would work out a plan to increase income of toddy traders by selling products made out of neera.
Nitish, however, stressed that "jan chetna" or mass
awareness as well as a stringentliquorlaw is needed for better implementation of prohibition.
He also requested the Chhattisgarh Government to send a team to Bihar to see the "successful enforcement of liquor ban and the response of people to the measure."
"Chhattisagrh is a peaceful and prosperous state, and people are good here. Nature has given a lot of things to the state which is full of natural resources. If liquor ban is implemented here, it will become a model state," he said.
Notably, Chhattisgarh Cabinet had recently approved the Chhattisgarh Excise (Amendment) Bill 2017, which will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly later this week.
However, the decision has drawn a flak, with women and various social groups having launched protests in several parts of the state demanding a ban on liquor.
The opposition Congress has tried to disrupt the proceeding of the House on many occasions during the ongoing Budget session, seeking ban on liquor.