PATNA, Nov. 26 -- Agriculture minister Ram Kripal Yadav on Tuesday said that doubling farmers' income in the state, along with ensuring transparent and corruption-free implementation of all government schemes and policies, would be his top priorities after assuming charge of the agriculture department. Yadav, a former Union minister, underlined that agriculture and its allied sectors were the mainstay of the state's economy, contributing 21 per cent to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), with 76 per cent of the population dependent on the farm sector for their livelihood. Stressing that all state and Central government schemes would be executed in a time-bound manner, Yadav said the focus would be on providing farmers with the full benefits of schemes, raising foodgrain production, reducing input costs and promoting scientific farming to enhance income. He added that his department was committed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "empowering farmers for a prosperous India". "Doubling farmers' income and implementing all state and central schemes in a transparent and corruption-free manner are our main priorities. I will also work for the comprehensive development of the farm sector and discharge the responsibilities entrusted to me by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar," Yadav told reporters. Principal secretary Pankaj Kumar, along with senior officers of the department, was also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, the agriculture department has launched raids across the state to check black marketing of fertiliser and other malpractices by dealers, ensuring farmers receive fertiliser at fixed prices without inconvenience. Officials of the department have been directed to verify stocks at all fertiliser sale centres through POS machines and to take action against dealers if any irregularities are detected. Pankaj Kumar has also instructed officials to maintain strict vigilance along the international border to curb smuggling of fertiliser from neighbouring countries, in coordination with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Agriculture department officials said there were adequate fertiliser stocks in the state for the 2025-26 rabi season, with 3.38 lakh metric tonnes of urea, 1.66 lakh metric tonnes of DAP, 2.48 lakh metric tonnes of NPK and sufficient quantities of other manures available....