Patna, (Bihar Times): The Institue of Agricultural Studies and Research is going to start functioning at Lodhway near Wazirganj, about 22 km from Gaya, from the next academic session. This Institute will be established by Magadh University, which is headquartered in Bodh Gaya.

The Institute will be spread over 224 acres of land donated by the Mahant of Budhauli. The Lodhway campus will house a chain of institutions. It will also provide space for farming of medicinal and aromatic plants for both academic and commercial purposes.

In this regard the University will enter into agreements with some national and international organizations to market agricultural products. The land plots in Lodhway, though donated years back, was lying abandoned for the last many years and the local farmers have also encroached a part of it. The University will seek the help of district administration to get the encroachers evicted. The project is slated for approval by the academic council at its next meeting.

According to the vice chancellor, B N Pandey, horticulture, floriculture, dairy and poultry, besides commercial farming of medicinal and aromatic plants, are thrust areas. The University will soon sign MoU with some agricultural and scientific institutes for technical assistance.

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