Bihar Agricultural Road Map

 

Agricultural Road Map

Given the substantial yield gaps of most agricultural commodities on the one hand and low farmers' income and widespread rural poverty on the other, and also taking into account the richness of natural resources and high level of peoples' aspirations, a gradual approach for liberating the people of Bihar from twin traps of hunger and poverty will neither be economically sound nor socially expedient. In the context of National Food Security, it is worthwhile recalling words of Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, from the report of National Commission on Farmers: " Unless we develop this region into an agriculturally prosperous area, our country may have to revert to a ship-to-mouth existence once again after 40 years".

Goals:-  

Formation of Road map implementation Support Unit for the execution of DRR Roadmap, MOU has been signed with Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), Bangkok, Thailand to execute the DRR Roadmap.
The programmes and activities relating to agriculture, animal husbandry and cooperative sectors were primarily included in the first agriculture road map.

 

First Agricultural Road Map (2008-2012):-  

The first step was taken with "Mukhyamantri Tivra Beej Vistar Yojna" in the year 2008. In more than forty thousand villages high yielding variety seeds of wheat and paddy were distributed. These seeds reaching from one farmer to another established new records in the production as well as productivity of wheat and paddy in 2011-12. Positive steps were taken in the fields of crop diversification, horticulture, bee keeping, green manure, vermi composting and mushroom cultivation with focus on improvement in the productivity of the major crops for increasing the earning of the farmers. Bihar holds first position in India in honey bee box based honey production. Green manure and vermi composting have started showing results in "greening" Bihar. In a few districts mushroom cultivation has emerged as an avenue for gainful employment which also ensures development, food security as well as nutritional security, Execution of many programmes has increased the employment opportunities and it has led to increase in incomes.

Agriculture Road Map has led to forty fold increase in the plan outlay of agriculture department in five years.

A world record was created in the year 2012 for productivity of paddy of 224 quintal per hectare and productivity of potato of 729 quintal per hectare. Bihar received Krishi Karman award from Government of India for significant achievement in production of rice for the year 2012.

The total milk production recorded to 6643 thousand tonnes in 2011-12 while it was 5451 thousand tonnes in 2006-07. The per capita milk availability had increased to 175 gms/day in 2011-12 from 154 gms/day (2006-07).

Second Agricultural Road Map (2012-2017):-  

The exercise of preparation of second road map had taken about a year's time. It started with the constitution of an Agriculture Cabinet i.e. a cabinet committee on agriculture on the April 14, 2011. The Hon'ble Chief Minister is its chairman and the Hon'ble ministers of 18 agriculture related departments are its members. The Agriculture Cabinet in its first meeting on the April 26, 2011, constituted 14 committees under the chairmanship of Agriculture Production Commissioner, departmental Principal Secretaries and Secretaries. Retired and working officers and agriculture scientists are its members. The agriculture cabinet, in four successive meetings deliberated the reports of these committees for about 15 hours. After all these deliberations a draft road man was prepared and it was placed before a Kisan Samagam of more than 2000 farmers who were invited from different parts of the state on the February 4, 2012. After that it was discussed in the legislative Assembly on the 27 and 28 February 2012 and on 1st March 2012 in the Legislative Council. The meeting of 14 committees was again convened to discuss all the suggestions and comments and a final draft agriculture road map was prepared which was approved by agriculture cabinet in its meeting on 16th March 2012. Finally the state cabinet approved the Road Map on 03.04.2012.

Goals:-  

Major goals of agriculture road map envisage are increase in farmers' income, food security, nutritional security, to create gainful employment and to check migration, to ensure equitable farm agricultural growth with focus on gender and human aspects, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and one product from Bihar in every Indian's plate.

The second Agriculture Road Map was more comprehensive. Various programmes and activities relate to agriculture, animal husbandry, pisciculture, cooperatives, water resources, minor water resources, land reforms, energy, environment and forest, rural roads, storage facilities and warehouses, food processing were implemented in the second roadmap.

Achievement of First Road Map:-  

The state has achieved a production of 65.16 lakh MT of milk, 110.02 crores of egg, 2.18 lakh MT of meat and 5.06 lakh MT of fish. The target of forest cover in the state in the agriculture road map has been increased to 15 percent from 9 percent. As per the estimate of Forest Survey of India, the state’s forest cover has increased to more than 12.88 percent. During the last five years, more than 18.47 crore saplings have been planted. There has been significant achievement in enhancement of storage capacity of food grains and expansion of rural roads. About 68,591 kilo-meters of rural roads have been constructed. Grain procurement through PACS has also started. 174 rice mills, 44 flour mills, 43 maize processing plants, 53 RABC (Rural Agri Business Centres), 5 dry warehouse based rural agri business centre, 16 fruits and vegetables processing plants, 9 milk processing plants, 4 makhana processing plants, 3 honey processing plants, 12 biscuit production units, 10 edible oil mills, 7 ice cream manufacturing plants and 28 other food processing units were established in the state. I.Sc.(Ag) course have commenced in 11 government basic schools from 2015. In the last 5 years initiatives have been taken for the registration of farmers. Direct payment of subsides in the bank account of the farmers has also been initiated.

Bihar received Krishi Karman award from Government of India for significant achievement in wheat for the year 2013 and maize for the year 2016.

Third Agricultural Road Map (2017-2022) :-  

Experiences and learning from the two earlier road maps and situations arising due to changing scenario have been kept in mind while formulating the third Agriculture Roadmap. Draft road map was formulated in consultation with subject experts of different departments. On 16 June 2017, a "Kisan Samagam" was organised at Gyan Bhavan, Patna to discuss and to seek opinion on draft agriculture road map from the farmers. The draft agriculture roadmap was published on agriculture department website for comments from public till 31 July 2017. All suggestions received thereof were sent to subject experts for review. After incorporating all changes and suggestions from the experts, the roadmap was finalised. Former agriculture advisor to the Honorable Chief Minister, Dr. Mangala Rai provided valuable suggestions after detailed discussion with all departments concerned. On 16 September 2017 and 22 September 2017, discussion was held with Honorable Chief Minister along with Honorable ministers of twelve departments on the final draft of the Agriculture Road Map for their insights and suggestions. The final draft was approved on 3 October, 2017 by the council of ministers of the state of Bihar.

Sector wise major strategies and programmes for the third agricultural road map were formulated keeping in mind the current scenario of the state. The main aim of this road map is to have at least one food item (vyanjan) of Bihar in every Indian’s food plate (thali). To implement programmes relating to organic farming, food security, nutritional security, inclusive growth and increase in income of farmers, emphasis will be put on sustainable technologies and processes so that present needs will be met while keeping the opportunities for the future growth intact. This is an effort for adoption of strategies for integrated agriculture and diversification of crop and enterprises for rainbow revolution which will act as a model for inclusive growth.