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Agricultural Development in Bihar: Some Empirical Evidences

During last five years, the annual growth rate of State AgGDP has been around 5.9 per cent whereas State Gross Domestic Product recorded growth of 10.9 per cent during the period which was higher than corresponding growth achieved at national level. But the growth has not been sustainable, mainly due to floods in 2007 & 2008 and draughts in 2009 & 2010. Despite almost stagnant irrigated area, a substantial increase in productivity of principal crops has been achieved during Eleventh Five Year Plan which was made possible due to increased seed replacement rate and more use of fertilizer. Use of organic manure and animal power declined but use of agricultural machineries increased in crop production, mainly due to uneconomic keeping of bullock on tiny land holdings. In this process marginal farmers are being exploited by resourceful farmers due to irrational hiring rate of agricultural machineries in rural Bihar. A number of central sponsored projects have already been initiated in the State but they have not yielded the desired results. The strong monitoring system of agricultural projects, investment in irrigation and research, improving access of farmers to inputs and agricultural development programmes, increased agricultural credit to small peasants and tenants and, of course, increased generation and improved transmission of electricity are the prerequisites for higher and sustainable agricultural growth in the State. In the absence of these, desired rate of growth will remain elusive. Agriculture Extension officials should also be trained for modern agriculture technology and package of practices.