**Executive Summary**
Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed the formation of a specialized expert task force to address the litchi crop crisis in Bihar caused by the litchi stink bug. Triggered by farmer concerns raised on May 7, the panel is mandated to assess damage and recommend immediate and long-term remedial measures. The task force is required to submit its comprehensive report to the Union Agriculture Minister within one week.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Mandate and Objectives**
* **Assessment:** The task force will visit the most affected blocks in litchi-producing districts of Bihar to scientifically study crop losses.
* **Remedial Measures:** The panel must suggest both immediate and long-term measures to provide relief to affected farmers.
* **Advisories:** Members will recommend necessary extension activities and technical advisories for farmers to manage the stink bug infestation.
* **Intervention Strategy:** The report will outline required interventions at both the state and central government levels.
**Task Force Composition**
* **Leadership:** The Director of the National Research Centre on Litchi (NRCL), Muzaffarpur, serves as the chairperson, with Dr. Vinod Kumar as the member secretary.
* **Expert Representation:** The panel includes scientists and specialists from the ICAR-NRCL, the National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (Bengaluru), and the ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region.
* **Government and Academic Liaisons:** Members include representatives from the Bihar State Horticulture Mission, the Bihar Agriculture Department (Plant Protection), Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Bihar Agricultural University (Sabour), and the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.
**Impact Analysis**
**Litchi Farmers in Bihar**
**Impact**
Farmers are currently facing extensive crop damage and economic loss due to the litchi stink bug infestation.
**Action Required**
Farmers are expected to follow the technical advisories and extension activities recommended by the task force once the report is finalized.
**Expert Task Force Members**
**Impact**
These scientists and officials are responsible for conducting rapid field assessments and scientific evaluations of the crisis.
**Action Required**
The team must visit affected blocks immediately and submit a formal report with recommendations to the Union Agriculture Minister within one week.
**State and Central Agriculture Departments**
**Impact**
Government bodies are tasked with coordinating a sensitive and immediate intervention to protect the litchi crop.
**Action Required**
Officials must facilitate the task force’s assessment and prepare to implement the suggested state and central level interventions to provide farmer relief.
Key Entities Referenced
Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare who initiated the intervention and ordered the formation of the expert task force.
Expert Task Force: A specialized panel of scientists and officials formed to assess litchi crop damage caused by the stink bug and suggest remedial measures.
National Research Centre on Litchi (NRCL), Muzaffarpur: The nodal institution under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) responsible for chairing and coordinating the expert task force.
Bihar: The primary state affected by the litchi crop crisis and the central location for the task force's field visits and assessments.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): The apex national body for agricultural research under which the NRCL and several other participating research institutes operate.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh
Chouhan orders expert panel on litchi crisis in
Bihar
Expert task force formed on directions of Shri Shivraj Singh
to protect litchi crop in Bihar
Team comprising scientists, officials and experts to submit
report within a week
Posted On: 08 MAY 2026 1:46PM by PIB Delhi
Taking serious note of the problems faced by litchi farmers in Bihar, Union Minister for Agriculture and
Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has initiated immediate and
sensitive intervention over the damage being caused to crops by the litchi stink bug. Following concerns
raised by farmers, Shri Chouhan directed the constitution of a special expert task force that will visit the
affected areas and submit a report along with recommendations for remedial measures.
The issue was raised before the Union Agriculture Minister during a farmer interaction programme
organised on May 7 at the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow. Farmers informed Shri
Chouhan about the extensive damage being caused to litchi crops due to the litchi stink bug. Taking
immediate cognisance of the matter, the Union Minister directed officials to form a specialised task force.
According to an order issued on May 7 by the National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, under the
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the task force will assess the current situation related to
the litchi stink bug, visit affected regions, scientifically study crop losses and suggest both immediate and
long-term measures to provide relief to farmers.
The task force will also recommend necessary advisories and extension activities for farmers, besides
suggesting interventions required at both the state and central levels.
As per the order, the expert task force has been constituted with scientists, officials and specialists from
various institutions. The Director of the National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, has been
appointed as the chairperson of the panel.
The members of the task force include representatives nominated by the Director of Horticulture-cum-
Bihar State Horticulture Mission, Bihar government; representatives nominated by the Director of Plant
Protection, Agriculture Department, Bihar government; a representative nominated by the entomologist of
Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur; a representative nominated by the
Principal Scientist (Entomology) of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur; and a representative
nominated by the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.The panel also includes scientist Dr Jaipal Singh Chaudhary from the ICAR Research Complex for
Eastern Region and the Centre for Agricultural Systems Research for Hill and Plateau Region, Ranchi; Dr
M Sampat Kumar from the National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru; scientist
(Entomology) Dr Ipsita Samal from the ICAR-National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur; and
Principal Scientist (Entomology) Dr Vinod Kumar, who will serve as the member secretary of the task
force.
According to the order, the task force will soon visit the most affected blocks in litchi-producing districts
of Bihar. The team has been asked to submit its report to Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh
Chouhan within one week so that necessary action can be taken in a timely manner.
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