Agriculture in Bihar

Introduction
Agriculture is the key area for the overall development Bihar. After the bifurcation of
the state of Bihar, it is left with only agriculture as the main source of livelihood. With
fertile cultivable land in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and abundant water, the state is
endowed with rich natural resources for Agriculture which is the dominant economic
activity employing around three quarter of the state's work force. Rice, wheat, maize,

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sugarcane and jute are the major crops grown in the state. Supplementary crops
include oilseeds, pulses, barley, gram and a variety of vegetables. The state is also

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known for its fruit products like litchi, mango and Banana besides being a major
producer of vegetables.

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Current Status of Agriculture in Bihar

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� In Bihar agriculture and allied sector contributes 18.9 percent of the GSDP.
� Maize accounts for 1.5 million MT (or 10% of country production)
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� Bihar contributes 85% of national production of Makhana and 71% of Litchi.
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� Honey Production in Bihar is 14% of national production.
� Farm holdings are small and scattered. There are about 1.61 crore farm holdings
of which 91 percent is marginal.
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� The water area of Bihar constitutes about 3.9 percent of the total geographical
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area.
� The net sown area in Bihar is 60% of its geographical area. This percentage is
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much higher than the all-India average of 42% due to geographical position as Bihar
comes in Gangetic plain which makes it more fertile than other part of India.
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Role of Agriculture in different sectors of economy in Bihar

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� Agriculture (traditional sector) has a number of functions to perform. It must

provide food and labour for expansion of the modern sector and the savings to
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finance the expansion of the latter. Agriculture plays pivotal role in Bihar's economy
and this sector's better performance is vital for inclusive growth.
� Industrial Inputs: Several industries depend on the raw material produced by
agriculture. Agriculture in Bihar can help in growth of Food Processing Industry by
providing required raw material like Litchi, Makhna, Mango, Banana etc.
� Employment Generation:In Bihar, around 85% population depends on agriculture
and allied activities. Most of the rural population earns its livelihood from agriculture
and other occupation allied to agriculture. In cities also, a considerable part of labour
force is engaged in jobs depending on processing & marketing of agricultural
products.
 � Food Supply: Agriculture is the major source of food supply in Bihar as Bihar is
well known for its subsistence economy. The cereal production accounts for as much
as 79.8% of the gross cropped area as compared to national average 50.8% in
Bihar. Rice is the dominant kharif crop and wheat, the most important rabi crop.

SWOT Analysis of Bihar Agriculture

Strengths of Agriculture in Bihar
� The soils are light, alluvium - derived soils mostly khaddar (recent alluvium) and

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hanger (Old alluvium). In many places the soils are deep, loamy and high in organic

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matter content and hence very suitable for intensive cultivation.
� The state has high irrigation potential since water table is high.

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� Rice-Wheat cropping system is most predominant.
� The region has good climate. Predominantly there are three seasons-hot summer

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(April-June), hot and humid rainy season (July-October) and cool dry winter
(November-March). The growing period ranges from 180-210 days in a year. Two
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crops are common but with irrigation, third crop can also be taken during summer.
� The region has a number of ICAR Research Institutes and their Regional Stations,
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Agricultural Universities, Centres of All India Coordinated Research Projects and
Krishi Vigyan Kendras to support the current and ensuing programmes
� State has good potential for quality seed production of field crops, fruits and
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vegetables.
� Working force is available at cheaper rate.
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Weakness of Agriculture in Bihar

� The population pressure in this region is exceedingly high
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� Although there are Directorates of Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries and Animal

Husbandry, but their extension services in terms of creating awareness about new
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technologies, conducting field demonstrations, conducting training programmes and

providing latest information to farmers are very poor.
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� Although about 70% of the villages are electrified, but electricity is not available
for more than 10 hours a day. The farmers cannot depend on electric supply for
irrigation and other agricultural operations and are dependent on diesel engines.
Opportunities of Agriculture in Bihar
� Food processing units can take benefits from agriculture in Bihar. As Bihar is
leading producer of fruits (Litchi, Mango, Banana, Makhana) and other raw material
for Food Processing Industry.
� By providing quality seed and planting material to farmers overall productivity can
easily be increased 2-3 times.
 � The region receives good rainfall and the water table is high. By adopting proper
water management practices the entire agricultural land can be converted into
irrigated land, whereby maximum benefit can be derived from the quality seed of
improved varieties
� The area has good potential of growing good quality fruits and vegetables. The
region has also high population density. By adopting scientific methods of
production, making best use of agricultural labour force and by using proper Post-
Harvest Technology at farm/village level, the production of horticultural crops can be
increased many folds.

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� The region has good opportunity of seed processing activities in the production

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catchments for increased income and employment and to wipe out hunger and
poverty

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� Availability of high quality planting material will encourage the production of high
value crops substantially.

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Threats of Agriculture in Bihar
� Due to land tenancy laws, the operational holdings will be further getting smaller
which may reduce the scope for intensive agriculture.
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� The region has good rainfall but also receives floods during monsoon. Unless
proper attention is given to proper soil conservation, drainage and water
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management programmes, the water logging and soil erosion problems may take
serious turn in future and it would be difficult to maintain soil fertility.
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� In absence of proper storage facilities, heavy losses is being incurred, may

continue in future also.
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Major Challenges in Agriculture Sector in Bihar

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� State agriculture faces multifaceted challenges that emanate bothfrom within the
system and also from outside. Low productivity across all the enterprises, crop,
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horticulture, milk, meat, egg and fishes has traditionally described the state
agriculture. The low productivity has consequential effects on low income and high
poverty of its population.
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� The following major factors are making agriculture practices unviable in Bihar
� Historical Factor: Since historical times, farmers of Bihar had been
exploited.Indigo farmers were force to cultivate indigo (teen kathiya system),
permanent land revenue settlement forced on the people of Bihar was exploitative in
nature.It deteriorated the productivity and degraded the income source of farmers in
eastern gangatic plain.
� Geographical Factors: Bihar is a land locked state.Monsoon reaches here in the
month of June-July. It makes agriculture land drought prone. On the other hand,
heavy rainfall in north Bihar contributes to the overflow of Kosi, Gandak, Ganga
rivers causingheavy flood in north Bihar.
 � Water Mismanagement: Excess ground water extraction and absence of small
check dams give signs of water mismanagement in the different areas of Bihar.
� Technological factors: State productivity remains low because of the slow
adoption of modern technologies by the farmers. Dominance of cereals in cropping
pattern reflect on the subsistence nature of state agriculture. Institutional extension
system faces the challenge to take latest technologies to farmer's field.
� Land Issues: More than 91 percent of all holdings fall in the category of marginal
holdings with farm size less than 1 hectare. Each such holding is again fragmented
in small parcels. Land records are obsolete, making any institutional investment

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virtually impossible. Small farm agriculture operation creates serious problems for

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economy of scale.
� Rainfed agriculture: State agriculture still heavily depends on monsoon. In the last

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5 years, there has been drought or drought like situation in four consecutive years.
Kharif crops are almost a gamble leaving little prospect for investments in costly
inputs. Canal Irrigation is scanty.

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Irrigation is majorly (70%) dependent on diesel-based tube wells. High cost of diesel-
based irrigation makes it a very difficult input for even rabi crops.
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� Lack of Infrastructure: Road connectivity, storage godown and power availability
to agriculture sector is inadequate to usher accelerated agriculture development in
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the state.
� Lack of institutional credit: Slow pace of implementation of kisan credit card leave
large number of farmers dependant on high cost non institutional lending sources
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seriously impeding use of modern agricultural inputs and adoption of modern

technology
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Following Measures can be taken to improve agricultural development in Bihar

� Diversification of Cropping Pattern: Bihar is producing mainly rice, sugarcane
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which are water intensive crops and harmful for the environment. So, diversification
of cropping pattern will not only reduce exploitation of natural resources but also
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stabilize the farmers income.

� Use of Science and Technology in Agriculture (Smart Agriculture):Use of Drone,
GPS enabled alarm system, GIS based land mapping technique will help promote
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conservation of land and Scientific use of resources like fertilizer and water for
irrigation will contribute in reduction of input cost.It will increase farmers income
along with higher productivity as soil health will be improved due to less distortion of
natural restoration of soil.
Skills and Training of good practices of agriculture
� Giving proper training to the farmers about soil structure, important nutrition
required by crop and optimum use of fertilizers and pesticides may result in
tremendous increase in productivity and production. Improve Infrastructure: Basic
infrastructure like cold storage facility, transportation and logistics are required for
the agriculture growth in Bihar. Market access is vital to ensure farmers income and
further investment in agriculture land.
 � Institutional Credit Access: Most of the rural farmers borrow money from
moneylenders and get trapped in debt for lifetime. Therefore, institutionalization of
credit system should be the first priority along with crop insurance and Direct Benefit
Transfer through JAM trinity.
� Substitution of agricultural income: Animalhusbandry and allied sectors can
reduce pressure on agriculture land. In fact, it will make it sustainable income of
source without affecting low rainfall, or other calamity.
Initiatives taken by the government:-

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All the 38 districts have a functional Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK).ICAR has also a
presence with eastern states regional headquarter at Patna. Besides, National

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Research Centre for Litchi and Makhana are established in state.
� Export Preparedness Index 2021 (Released in Mar 2022):-BIHAR has performed

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extremely well in the export promotion policy sub-pillar.It has all policy measures
except for facilitating the performance measurement system.

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� Bihar Agriculture Road Map 3 :- This roadmap was launched for a period of 5
years i.e. 2017-2022.
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The roadmap allocated 1.54 lakh crore to all around development of agriculture and
allied sectors, including for food processing, irrigation, flood protection and dairy
development.
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� Bihar Agriculture Investment Promotion Policy 2020 :- Under this policy, financial
assistance will be given to encourage and facilitate investment in the agribusiness
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sector and an enabling environment will be created.

� Mukhyamantri Harit Krishi Sanyantra Yojana:- Under this scheme, the
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Government will provide agricultural machinery to the farmers on nominal rent

facility. This will help in the mechanisation of agriculture in Bihar leading to increase
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in production.
� Bihar Saur Kranti Sinchai yojana (Solar Energy Irrigation Scheme) :- Under this
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scheme, famers will get solar pumps for irrigation purposes. 75% subsidy grant is
offered by the farmers and the remaining 25% will be deposited by the farmers.
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� Jal-jeevanHariyali Campaign :- In this campaign, Government of Bihar recently

launched Jalvayu Ke Anukul Krishi karyakram (Climate Resilient Agricultural
Programme). In phase I of this programme, 40 villages of 8 districts will be
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developed as Model climate resilient agricultural villages. This will give boost in
agriculture development in Bihar.
Economic Survey of Bihar 2021-22 :-
� In the year 2020-21, the agriculture sector had the highest share of 48.7 per cent
in the Gross State Domestic Product and the livestock sector accounted for 34.7 per
cent.
� In 2019-20, the maximum workers of Bihar were engaged in agriculture, forestry
and fishing (49.2percent). All over India, 45.6 percent of the workers were engaged
in this sector. Bihar's 74.5 percent female labour force was engaged in this sector.
 � The share of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Bihar's gross state value
addition was 19 percent in 2020-21. The share of crops was 9.3 percent and that of
livestock was 6.6 percent.
Conclusion :-
Bihar is considered the destination for second Green Revolution in the country. The
Government of India has conferred Krishi Karman Award to Bihar, for its
achievement in Productivity of Maize and wheat.Several reports including the
National Farmers Commission have emphasized the need for accelerated
development of agriculture in eastern India for securing food security of the country.

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Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the then President of India has described Agriculture as

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Core Competence of Bihar.

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