Fourth Agriculture Roadmap 2023-28

The state is endowed with fertile land and hard working farmers. Therefore, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, called agriculture sector, core competence of Bihar. Bihar is important for the food security of the country, has been highlighted by the National Commission on Farmers. Cropping intensity in the state is 144 percent. The rate of increase in income of agricultural household in Bihar has been higher than the national average. Current status of agriculture in the state can be understood on the basis of land utilization statistics of the state. According to the land utilization statistics, 2020-21, Out of 93.6 lakh hectares of total land area of the state, 50.45 lakh hectares is under net cropped area and 72.46 lakh hectare is the under the gross cropped area. Cropping intensity in the state is 144 percent.

The objectives of the Fourth Agriculture Road Map have been set as follow:

• Food and Nutrition Security.
• Promotion of non- raiyat and women farmers along with raiyat farmers for inclusive development.
• Sustainable development.
• Convergence between different departments of agriculture road map as well as mutual coordination between government departments and private sector in relation to farmer related subjects.
• Forming farmers’ groups for the purpose of small farmer-big farming.
• Maximum use of modern technology in agriculture, so that farmers' lives can be improved by solving their problems.
• Specific measures to reduce damage to agricultural produce during production and after production.
• Special program for the development of specific agricultural areas of the state such as Tal and Diara and Chaur.

Challenges & Opportunities

Despite the significant achievements of the first three agricultural road maps, there are many challenges and new opportunities before the agriculture sector. The challenges and opportunities of the state's agriculture can be outlined in the following details,

Strengths of state's agriculture sector:

• Fertile soil
• Abundance of water sources like rivers, chaur, mann etc. and availability of underground irrigation water sources
• Suitable agro climatic sitation for growing three crops in a year
• Hard working farmers
• Priority for agriculture sector in state government policies
• Availability of Agricultural Research and Education Centers
• Availability of agricultural extension system up to Panchayat level
• Rich agricultural heritage with GI tag such as Zardalu Mango, Shahi Litchi, Magahi Paan, Katrani Rice, Mithila Makhana

Weaknesses of state's agriculture sector:

• Small and Fragmented Holdings - More than 91 percent of all farmers belong to marginal farmer’s category in the state.
• Lack of infrastructure for storage, processing, marketing etc. due to less investment in agriculture sector.
• Lack of use of modern technology in agricultural extension system, lack of timely communication of market related information to the farmers.
• The productivity of agricultural enterprises are less than the potential.
• Cropping system is dominated by paddy – wheat cropping system.

Opportunities of state's agriculture sector:

• To take agricultural heritage products in the different parts of the country and abroad market.
• To increase production of fruits and vegetables of the state for national and international market.
• Organize small farmers and transform them into an economic unit.
• Crop Diversification
• To take benefits of the Agriculture Road Map schemes through effective coordination between different departments.
• Increase in the income of farmers by processing and value addition.
• Agricultural Input Marketing by adopting digital technologies.

Threats of state's agriculture sector:

• Climate Change.
• Flood.
• Drought.
• Irregularity of Monsoon.
• Terminal Heat.