Ramasi Village in Sanhaula Developed as India's First 'Sindoor Village'; Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) Sabour's Unique Initiative Provides Fresh Momentum to the Rural Economy
Bhagalpur, Special Correspondent: Marking a historic and revolutionary chapter in Bihar's agricultural sector, Ramasi village in the Sanhaula block of Bhagalpur district has been developed as the country's first 'Sindoor Village' (Vermilion Village). This comprehensive development model was conceptualized by Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, with the objective of strengthening the rural economy and bringing about multi-faceted growth in farmers' incomes. Through this unique initiative, Ramasi village has earned recognition as a 'Product-Specific Smart Village,' which will not only bestow a distinct global identity upon the region but also unlock new avenues of employment and entrepreneurship for local farmers and women.
The Vision of a 'Product-Specific Smart Village'
Under the visionary leadership of BAU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dunia Ram Singh, a plan was formulated to transform the landscape of selected villages across the state. The primary objective of this scheme is to grant villages a special identity based on their unique and traditional produce:
Distinct Identity for Villages: Under this concept, each designated village is linked to a specific agricultural product (such as vermilion, Zardalu mango, dragon fruit, etc.), ensuring that the mere mention of the village brings global fame to its core produce.
Modern Technology and Training: Farmers are no longer confined to traditional farming alone; instead, they are being connected with modern agricultural technology, scientific training, better market management, and value addition to bring direct, positive improvements to their livelihoods.
Ramasi Village Emerges as India's First 'Sindoor Gram'
Ramasi village in the Sanhaula block has now become the country's first village to be officially developed as a 'Sindoor Village':
Large-Scale Planting of Sita Sindoor Saplings: During the formal launch of this campaign, 250 'Sita Sindoor' saplings, aged 7 to 8 months, were planted across a one-acre plot on farmer Ravindra Kumar's land in Ramasi village.
Empowerment of Women Farmers: Sindoor saplings were distributed free of cost to nearly 100 women farmers during the event. Furthermore, they were provided with horticulture toolkits, power knapsack sprayers, and other modern equipment, opening new pathways to entrepreneurship and self-reliance for rural women.
A Major Scientific Research Breakthrough: Following three years of relentless struggle and research by university scientist Dr. V. Shajida Bano, this 'Sita Sindoor' technology has been successfully taken out of the laboratory and directly into farmers' fields. Notably, the university has also secured the patent for vermilion technology and the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for 'Sita Sindoor,' marking a proud achievement for the region.
Presence of Dignitaries at the Ceremony and Enthusiasm Among Farmers
This grand inauguration ceremony held in Ramasi village was attended by several stalwarts of the agricultural sector and public representatives:
Present on the occasion were BAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. D.R. Singh, Kahalgaon MLA Er. Shubhanand Mukesh, Director of Agriculture Dr. Anil Kumar, along with several senior agricultural scientists of the university (Dr. Mohd. Fiza Ahmed, Dr. S.K. Pathak, Dr. Rajesh Kumar, and others).
Addressing the farmers, guests and scientists noted that compared to traditional crops, vermilion cultivation will prove to be far more profitable with lower input costs.
Local farmers and villagers exhibited deep interest in this new agricultural technology. Farmers remarked that this is the first time such commercial and unique farming has been launched in their village, which will completely transform their economic standing in the future.
Preparations to Identify Villages for Other Products as Well
Following the historic success of Ramasi village, Bihar Agricultural University is searching for similar regions where bumper yields of specialty crops have high potential:
Specialized Production of Zardalu Mango and Dragon Fruit: In the days ahead, special villages will be identified and developed as smart villages for premium crops such as Zardalu mangoes and dragon fruit (Kamalam) in Bhagalpur and surrounding areas.
This will provide Bhagalpur's renowned agricultural products with a new global branding while multiplying farmers' incomes.
This initiative to develop Ramasi village in Sanhaula into a 'Sindoor Village' is proving to be a milestone in Bihar's agricultural revolution. Through this unique convergence of agricultural science and rural labor, Ramasi village is not only setting an example of self-reliance but also paving a new path to strengthen rural livelihoods for farmers across the entire country.
