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Agriculture in Bihar

Introduction -
Agriculture is the mainstream of economy in Bihar. It is providing food security, employment
and rural development in the state. It provides livelihood to almost more than three-fourth
of the residents of the state. It is also providing raw material to industries and helping in
enhancing the economic growth of the state. The share of the agricultural sector in the State’s
GSVA was 10.64% in the year 2018-19.

The state faces several setbacks like erratic rainfall, fragmented land holding, etc. but still the
performance of agricultural and horticulture sector is encouraging. The demands for financial
resources for farm investment, cropping, purchase of input and machinery have been
continuously increasing in Bihar. The state government is undertaking various programmes
and schemes to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices, technological assistance, and
modern inputs to give security to the farming community.

CROP SEASONS IN BIHAR:

There are three main crop seasons in Bihar region:

Rabi Crop:

Rabi crops in India usually sown in winters and harvested in the spring season. It usually is
sown around mid-November usually after the monsoon rains are over. The harvesting of Rabi
crop begins in April and May month. The crop is grown by groundwater or using irrigation.
The major Rabi crops are Wheat, barley, mustard and peas etc. the crop usually needs low
temperature and low moisture content in the soil.

Kharif Crop:

Kharif crops are monsoon crops or also known as Autumn crops. Kharif crops are usually sown
at the beginning of first rain after the advent of the south-west monsoon season. The
harvesting is done at the end of monsoon, the month of October November. The crops mainly
depend upon the timing of rainwater and its quantity. Rice is the most important Kharif crop
and grown in rain-fed areas with a hot and humid climate. Other Kharif crops are Cotton,
Sugarcane, Maize, Bajra, Miller and Paddy etc.

Zaid crops:

Zaid crops are mainly summer season crops. It grows for a long period from March to June.
The crop season lies between Rabi and Kharif crop season. The crop basically requires warm,
dry weather for major growth. The main Zaid crops are Muskmelon, watermelon and Gourd
etc.

AGRO CLIMATIC ZONES -

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The geographical area of Bihar is 93.6 lakh Hectare. The agro-climatic zone of Bihar is divided
into three distinct zones based on soil character, rainfall, temperature, terrain etc.

a. Agro-climatic zone I (North West): This zone has alluvial plains. The slope of the
plain is towards the south-east direction, having a low gradient in the direction of river
flow. The zone has 13 districts. The river in this region moves eastward along with natural
levee before meeting the Ganga. Because of this, area of Saran, Vaishali and Samastipur
have waterlogged areas. The region has 1040-1450 mm rainfall. The zone has six soil
groups:
i. Sub Himalayan and forest soil
ii. Recent alluvial Tarai soil
iii. Young alluvial Calcareous soil
iv. Young alluvial Calcareous saline soil
v. Young alluvial non Calcareous, non saline soil
vi. Recent alluvial Calcareous soil

b. Agro-climatic zone II (Northern East): The Northeastern zone has eight districts
and rainfall is around 1200-1700mm. The zone consist plains of Kosi, Mahananda, and
other tributaries of Ganga. This is a rolling landscape mixed with the stretches of flat
landscape pr other reliefs. The soil here is light or medium textured or loamy or clay loam.
The zone has three broad soil groups:
i. Recent alluvial Tarai soil
ii. Recent alluvial non Calcareous soil
iii. Recent alluvial Calcareous soil

c. Agro-climatic zone III (southern east and west): The zone has 17 districts. The
average rainfall here is 990-1300 mm. The zone divided into two subzones:
a. Agro-climatic zone IIIA(Southern East)
b. Agro-climatic zone IIIB(Southern West)
It is the alluvial plain of Ganga on the southern side. It receives sediments from both
Ganga and others which are flowing southwards from Chota Nagpur plateau. Tal is the
land of backwaters present in the south of natural levees of Ganga. Diara Lands are
those land which gets eroded and deposited at regular intervals because of the flood
plain of Ganga. The zone does not have any marshy lands. The zone is having following
soil group:
i. Recent alluvial Calcareous soil
ii. Tal land soils, light grey, dark grey medium to heavy textured soil
iii. Oil reddish alluvial yellow, yellow grey centenary soil
iv. Old alluvial grey, heavy texture soil
v. Yellow and reddish yellow non-calcareous soil
vi. Old alluvial yellow and red soil in foothills
vii. Saline and alkali saline soil
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Land utilization pattern in Bihar:

Bihar has a total of 57.12 lakh hectare land under cultivation. It is almost 60% of the total
geographical area. Out of a total, 23.58 lakh hectare is going for cultivation twice a year.
Therefore the gross cropped area is 78.82 lakh hectares.

Economic survey of Bihar, 2019-20

Land Use 2017-18 (%)

Net sown area 56
Land not available for cultivation 23
Fallow land 11.1
Culturable wasteland 0.5
Forest 6.6
Uncultivated land excluding fallow land 2.8

net sown area

land not avaiable for

cultivation
fallow land

culturable waste

forest
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Main crops of Bihar:

1. Food crops:

The food crop refers to the major food supply obtained from the plants—the plant
which requires human intervention through agriculture to obtained as food crops.
Main food crops consist of grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, vegetables, fruits, herbs,
beverages, spices, tea and coffee etc.
Bihar has 94.04% of agriculture under food grain production in the year 2018-19.

Name of Time for Conditions Top districts Total Some

the crop sowing or in the production important
harvesting production points
Rice Usually • High the highest 61.55 lakh Aus is a
monsoon temperature productivity tonnes in summer crop,
times • Fertile soil in Rohtas and 2018-19 and Aman is
• 125 cm of lowest in Winter crop.
rainfall Siwan It is the main
• Water cereal crop in
intensive Top three the state of
crop districts in Bihar.
production The adoption
are Rohtas, of system of
Aurangabad rice
and Kaimur. intensification
with higher
water
efficiency and
greater
resistance.
Wheat Sown in • Sandy soil Top three 64.65 lakh It is a Rabi
November • Soil needs to districts in tonnes in crop.
and hold terms of 2018-19
December moisture. productivity
and are
harvested in Madhepura,
March and Begusarai and
April. Rohtas.

Top three
districts in
Wheat
production
are Rohtas,
Muzaffarpur
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and
Sitamarhi.
Maize Sown in • Light clay Purnea has 31.94 lakh It is a Food
June and soil the highest tonnes in and fodder
July and • The best soil productivity, the year crop.
harvested in is Bal and Bhojpur is 2018-19 It is Grown in
September Sundari soil at lowest fertile
and October during the Gangetic
year 2017-18. plains and use
of hybrid
The top three seeds for high
districts in productivity.
Maize It is a Kharif
production crop.
are Katihar,
Purnea and
Araria.
Barley Sown in • The area has • Low 2.84 lakh Oldest crop of
October and wheat productivity tonnes in India.
November cultivation is and most of the year It comes
good for the area is 2018-19 under coarse
barley also went into cereals.
wheat
cultivation
Jowar Sown in May • Fertile soil • Bhojpur, 0.0076 lakh Coarse
and and less Champaran tonnes in cereals.
harvested in rainfall and the year
August • Dry and Munger 2018-19
plateau
region
Bajra • The dry and • Patna, 0.035 lakh It is a coarse
warm Munger tonnes in cereal.
climatic and 2018-19 It is grown in
condition Bhojpur plain areas.
• 40 cm to 60
cm rainfall
• 20-300 C

Pulse:

For nutritional benefits, demands of pulses in Bihar is continuously increasing among

vegetarians. It is also important for achieving ecological sustainability by increasing soil
fertility. In Bihar, pulses are largely grown under rainfed conditions and subject to higher
fluctuations.
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Buxar recorded the highest productivity in Bihar. Lowest districts in productivity are Supaul,
Samastipur and Kishanganj and highest productivity in Buxar, Patna and East Champaran. The
leading districts in terms of production are Patna, Aurangabad and Nalanda. The total
production of the state is 4.53 lakh tonnes in the year 2018-19.

Name of the Time for Conditions Top districts in Total Some

crop sowing or the production production important
harvesting points
1. Arhar Sown with • Need less • Saran, 0.32 lakh
Kharif and fertile soil Muzaffarpur, tonnes in
harvested Darbhanga, 2018-19
with Rabi Munger and
crops Gaya are the
important
districts.
2. Gram • Clay soil • Bhojpur, 0.68 lakh
and sandy Gaya, Patna, tonnes in
soil Munger and 2018-19
Bhagalpur
3. Masoor • Black and • Patna, Gaya 1.48 lakh
alluvial soil and tonnes in
• Cool Champaran 2018-19
conditions are the
leading
districts
4. Khesari • Fertile soil • Gaya, Patna 0.51 lakh Mixed crop
and Bhojpur tonnes in Its ill impact
2018-19 on health
had lead to
a ban on its
production.

2. Cash crops:

Name of Time for Conditions Top districts in Total Some

the crop sowing or the production important
harvesting production points
Sugarcane • Heavy • Patna has 201.16 lakh It is a cash crop
rainfall the highest tonnes in for the sugar
• Clay soil productivity, 2018-19 industry.
and and Labour
Bhagalpur is intensive crop.
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limestone having the Raw material

soil lowest. to agro-based
industry.
MukhyaMantri
Ganna Vikas
Yojana for
intensive
cultivation.
Jute Monsoon • Abundant 9.29 lakh Ranked
season rainfall tonnes in second in Jute
and 2018-19 cultivation.
alluvial soil This crop
• 250 – 370C comes under
• The fibre crop
alluvial soil category.
of good
depth
Oilseeds Both as • Dry winter 1.25 lakh It is a cash
Kharif and at the time tonnes in crop.
rabi crops. of ripening 2018-19 Linseed
Mustard,
sesamum are
the crops
under this
category.

Oilseeds in Bihar and production in 2018-19, Economic survey 2019-20

1. Castor seeds 0.0008 lakh tonnes

2. Safflower 0.0007 lakh tonnes
3. Sesame 0.014 lakh tonnes
4. Sunflower 0.104 lakh tonnes
5. Mustard 1.04 lakh tonnes
6. Linseed 0.082 lakh tonnes
7. Groundnut 0.008 lakh tonnes

Tobacco • 50 to 100 cm • Darbhanga, Sixth largest

of rainfall Munger and tobacco-
• 15 to 200 C Muzaffarpur producing
temperature are main state.
• Dry weather producers
Mesta This is a • High • Munger, 1.56 lakh Basically
fibre crop. temperature Bhagalpur, tonnes in Bihar plain is
Champaran, 2018-19 having
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• Heavy Muzaffarpur, abundant

rainfall Darbhanga, cultivation
• Fertile land Purnia and of Mesta.
Saharsa

Vegetable production:

Bihar has Gangetic alluvial soil which is good for vegetable production. The state is growing
successfully almost all the vegetable crops like cucurbits, beans, cole crops, okra, onion and
other root crops. The state is at top position among all the state in vegetable production. The
total area for the production is recorded as 8.57 lakh hectare. The production is recorded as
166.03 lakh tonnes in the year of 2018-19. The growth rate is 1.99 annually. Nalanda and
Saran are the leading producers in potato cultivation, and Nalanda, Patna and Katihar are
producing onion.

Fruits production:

Bihar has major fruit crop as Mango, Guava, Litchi and banana etc. Other minor crops are also
there like Makhana, pineapple, and Betel vine are grown. The area under the fruit cultivation
is 331.52 thousand hectares in the year 2014-15. The fruit production in the state for the year
2018-19 is 42.29 lakh tonnes. The productivity for the fruit cultivation is increased in recent
years. Muzaffarpur is famous for Litchi production. Shahi litchi and Malda of mango are the
brand name. Almost all the district of northern Bihar has Litchi cultivation. Makhana is also
grown intensively in the district of Darbhanga, Madhubani, Saharsa, Katihar and Araria etc.

Spices production:

The major spices in Bihar are Chilli, Turmeric, and coriander, Ginger, Garlic and Methi etc.

Flower and Aromatic plant production:

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The major commercial flowers are Marigold, Rose, Tuberose, Gladiolus and jasmine. The
aromatic plants like Japanese mint, lemongrass etc. is also promoted by the horticulture
mission in the state.

Irrigation:
The state of Bihar has enough resources, but the utilization is lacking by the government and
the farmers. Government has planned to increase the irrigation potential and using different
methods like interlinking of rivers and participatory irrigation management to increase the
use of resources.

Bihar is having rainfall of 1010 mm per annum which usually comes from the south-west
monsoon. It is highly rich in resources and having high rainfall also. Both the things are not
uniform in the state, and that is why there is regional variation in irrigation development in
the state. The erratic rainfall and droughts of the state are a hindrance for higher productivity.
The Bihar irrigation is divided into major, medium, and minor irrigation system. Total
irrigation capacity of Bihar is 117.54 lakh hectares, in which 53.53 lakh hectares from the
major and medium irrigation system and rest is from the minor irrigation system.

Sources of irrigation:

The chief sources of irrigation in Bihar are Canal, wells, tube wells and ponds. To create the
irrigation channels, the potential state needs to develop efficient utilization and benefits in
investment.

Canals:

Canals are the main source of irrigation in Bihar, and it is having a well-established system of
canals. Almost 37% of total irrigation comes under Canal irrigation system. Bihar is having
plain area, rivers and alluvial soil which are perfect condition for canals. South Bihar plain has
73%, and North Bihar plain is having 24% of total irrigation. Some of the major canals are as
follows:

Name of the Canal Length and stretch River Important points

1. Sone canal • Eastern: 130 km Son river It was constructed in
length and come 1875.
out from Barun. Irrigation in the
• Western son canal districts Patna,
Aurangabad, Gaya
and Jehenabad.
Western Canal
irrigation is in the
districts of Ara,
Buxar and Chausa.
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2. Kosi canal • Eastern: western Kosi river Eastern canal

side of Hanuman extends Murliganj,
Nagar reservoir Jankinagar, Purni
and length is 44 and Araria.
km. Western side
• Western: left side stretches Darbhanga
of the same district with 3 lakh
reservoir and 115 hectares area of
km of length. irrigation.
3. Gandak • Saran and Turhut Dam on Gandak Saran Canal irrigates
Canal Canal river near Valmiki Saran, Gopalganj
Nagar and Siwan districts.
Tirhut canal irrigates
Vaishali and
Champaran.
4. Triveni canal • River near the Gandak river West Champaran
place called district
Triveni.
5. Kamla Canal • From Darbhanga Kamla river Irrigates Madhubani
district district
6. Sakri Canal • Constructed in the Irrigates Munger,
year 1950 Gaya and Patna
districts
7. Rajpur Canal • Eastern Kosi River Kosi River Irrigates 1.60 lakh
and length is 366 hectares of area in
kms. Munger and saharsa
districts.
8. Dhaka and Very small in length Champaran districts.
Teur canal

Tube-wells:

After canals, tube-wells are the second most prominent means of irrigation. In 1945-46, for
the first time groundwater was utilized by tube-wells. It was going in Sasaram on Dehri on
Son. Some of the districts, namely Patna, Gaya, Kaimur, Nalanda, Rohtas, are good in tube-
well irrigation. Tubewell is basically working for the irrigation of Rabi crops.

Ponds:

Ponds are working and made out for the irrigation purpose only from ancient times. Bihar is
having an irrigation system of Ponds in almost all the districts.

Wells:
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Bihar plain is good in groundwater resources. It is having soft alluvial soil and a higher peak of
the groundwater table. It is easy to dig wells in Bihar. Gopalgaj, Saran and Siwan are the main
districts for the good irrigation.

Source wise net irrigated area:

Canals: 23.77 lakh acre

Ponds: 4.00 lakh acre
Tube-wells: 55.35 lakh acre
Wells: 0.3 lakh acre
Others: 3.1 lakh acre

An initiative by the state departments to improve the irrigation system:

• Surface irrigation scheme is recognized under the state plan, RIDF scheme and
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayi Yojana.
• Jan Jeevan Hariyali Abhiyan for water conservation and restoration work.
• Bihar Shatabdi Nalkalp Yojana for tubewell to farmers.
• Groundwater irrigation scheme
• Telemetry scheme is an automatic Digital water level recorder

Animal husbandry:

This particular sector is very important in Bihar economy because of high livestock population.
Animal food is high in protein; that is why demand is great in the national and international
market. The sector is creating income and employment in Bihar. Also, it provides large scale
income to women and marginal sector of the society. In the year, 2018-19 livestock and
aquaculture together constitute 7.10 percent of gross value added in the agriculture sector.

Livestock:

It is an important component of the economy in Bihar. It assists for food, protein, nutrition,
income and livelihood etc. from 2012 to 2019 livestock population increased in Bihar up to
36.5 million having a growth of 10.67 percent. The milch animal consists of around 63.18
percent of total livestock population. The population of cattle was 153.11lakh and population
of buffalo was 77.20 lakh in 2019.

Government services:

It is important to provide good services to increases livestock production in the state. The
state is focusing on delivering veterinary services, giving vaccination and preventive care etc.
The government want to increase the production of milch animal and increase the livestock-
related services by marginalized communities. Some of the initiatives are as follows:

• The Bihar livestock master plan is working for increasing the quantity and quality of
animal health services. It is also working for minimizing the diseases. This plan is in
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support with an international livestock research institute and the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation.
• Vaccination camps are being conducted for the vaccine named HSBQ, F MDCP,
Brucellosis, and PPR are giving without any fail. It is given under the department of
National livestock health and disease control programme to control various infectious
diseases.
• Bihar livestock development agency is the nodal agency to implement the
programmes for livestock development.
• The veterinary council is working for the registration of the state government
veterinarians legally.
• ASCAD (Assistant to the State to Control Animal Disease) for giving the vaccination
against various infectious disease. The programme has been recognized at the
Panchayat level.
• Low input technology is the scheme to produce chicks and establishing the poultry
farms at low cost. It is to establish centre poultry farm and regional poultry farms. The
chicks produce in the farms are sold at lower government rates to marginal farmers.
• Diagnostic laboratory is for advising the departmental officials and animal rearers for
the treatment of faces, urine and blood of animals and check the disease of animals.
• Goshala development scheme to provide shelter to abandoned animals. There are a
total of 86 goshalas. Because of lack of resources, goshalas have become non-
functional. To revive this government is working in purchase, protection and
development of indigenous breeds and also the fodder production.
• 49 Class I dispensaries is to protect the lives of animals by giving health facility in rural
areas.
• 780 out of 800 livestock development centres are operational in the state for
delivering artificial insemination to the farmers.
• Gokul gram is established in Dumraon in Buxar district to preserve the indigenous
breed of cattle.
• The frozen station is constructed in Purnea. It is producing almost 50 lakh frozen
semen straws per annum. It is great for the farmers.

Fisheries:

It is a booming commercial activity in Bihar. It provides livelihood security to many poor

households and also increases the nutritional and food security. Fish farming is a complement
to crop and livestock farming activities. It also works for the conservation of water resources.
Bihar is the leading state in producing the fishes. It ranks fourth in inland fisheries in the
country. The total Bihar fish production in the state is 6.02 lakh tonnes in the year 2018-19. It
registered the annual growth rate of 6.22%. The sector contributed to 1.6% of the state’s
gross value added. The sector needs quality seeds for good production. So, the state
government is working or providing seeds on a priority basis. In the year 2018-19 around
9286.5 lakh seeds have been distributed in the state.

The leading districts for the fish production are Madhubani, Darbhanga and East Champaran.
All the above three states with Katihar and west Champaran together account for 39.4% of
total fish production in the state.
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The state government is working for the betterment and empowering the fishermen
community in the state. The government is introducing all the latest technology and quality
fish seeds to increase production. Government is giving training programmes, subsidies,
development of ponds, fish marketing, transportations, the establishment of fish hatcheries
and fish mills etc. the state government is also giving a number of subsidies and insurance
coverage to fishermen cooperative societies. The national fisheries development board
(NFDB) is working for the stocking process. The state government is proposing to establish
Fish research centre in Mithapur and Sonaru fish seed farm in Fatuha.

Fisheries Policy, 2008:

It is for the development and management of fisheries and also providing sustainable
livelihood and economic growth to the state. It is to create a knowledge-driven and motivated
institutional framework for resource management and equitable development. Some of the
broader concepts of the policy are:

• To promoting development and management of all fish resources and provide

adequate sustainable livelihood to fish farmers.
• To conserve and manage fish biodiversity and fish resources.
• It also works for the creation of social awareness and promotes the consumption of
food.
• To provide a professional agency for the extension of services to fish farmers.
• Work for the reliable completing statics of potential resources, species wise
production and manage productivity levels. Create a database and then work for
development planning.
• Working for the development of ponds to bring the fishery sector at par with the
agriculture community.
• The development of fisheries in the ox-bow lakes. The policy seeks to bring almost
every ox bow lake into culture-based fisheries by the year 2020 and produce nearly
9000 tons of fish production every year.
• Also, development of fisheries in floodplains and wetlands. It visualizes the cluster
development of waterlogged areas of food and employment without harming the
ecosystem.
• Development of fisheries in reservoir and seed management for the better
production.
• Work for the creation of better marketing and also the management of riverine
bodies, ponds and public water bodies.