STATE ACTION PLAN - BIHAR – FOR THE YEAR 2009-12

1. A Presentation Before Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India STATE ACTION PLAN- BIHAR – FOR THE YEAR 2009-12 Department of Agriculture Govt. of Bihar

2. Agriculture Profile of the State • Total geographical area of 93.60 lakh hectares • Gross sown area in the State is 79.46 lakh hectares, • Net sown area is 56.03 lakh hectares • The intensity of cropping is 142%.

3. Bihar Agriculture: A Profile 59% Area under cultivation Source-Dir. Of Stat.,GOB,Year-2005-06

4. Predominance of Rice-Wheat in cropping pattern Source-Dir. Of Stat.,GOB,Year-2007-08

5. AGRO-CLIMATIC ZONES • Based on soil characterization, rainfall, temperature and terrain, three main agro-climatic zones in Bihar have been identified. These are: • Zone – I (North West Alluvial Plain) – 36%, • Zone – II (North East Alluvial Plain) - 20% • Zone-III (South Bihar Alluvial Plain) – 44%

6. Agricultural Production • The major agricultural products of Bihar are cereals, pulses, oilseeds and cash crops. • The rice wheat cropping system occupies more than 81% of the gross cropped area. • Production of Rice in the Year 2008-09 was 54.88 lakh Metric Tonne with an Total Area under Kharif Rice being 34.55 lakh ha. • Production of Wheat in the Year 2008-09 was 53.25 lakh Metric Tonne with an Total Area under being 22.36 lakh ha.

7. Agricultural Production • Wheat production in the state is suffering with the • problems of delayed sowing, • increase in cost of production due to rise in cost of petroleum oil, • lack of small duration varieties which can be appropriately tailored into rice-wheat system and • aberrations in weather conditions.

8. Maize – A Success Story • As compared to national average production of Maize is increasing in the state. • Productivity of Maize in Bihar (2541 kg/ha in 2006-07) is greater than that of All-India (1907 kg/ha). • This crop is now replacing upland rice in Kharif season and wheat in Rabi season. • Autumn maize has 42 to 43 per cent of area under the crop, • Rabi maize has 31 to 32 per cent and • summer maize 25 to 26 per cent. • Autumn maize contributes only 30 to 31 per cent of the total production, • Summer maize has a share of 29 to 30 per cent. • Rabi maize has better yield rate and produces nearly 40 to 41 per cent of the crop in the state, and is now replacing upland rice in Kharif season and wheat in rabi season. • With rich water resources and available irrigation in the winter and summer season, irrigated area under maize increased and so did the yields. • Both traditional and hybrid maize are grown in all the three seasons.

9. Pulses & Oilseeds • Productivity of Pulses, in the state is greater than All-India. In the year 2006-07 , in case of Bihar it is 735 kg/ha while in case of India it is 616 kg/ha. • Gram, Tur and Lentil are the major pulses grown in the State. • Oilseeds cover less than 2 per cent of the gross cropped area of the state. • The state’s position in the country in area and production is insignificant being less than 1 per cent each. • Rapeseed and mustard is the major oilseeds crop in the state followed by linseed

10. Sugarcane • Among commercial crops, sugarcane is an important crop in the state. • The state’s share in the country’s production is 4 to 4.5 percent and ranks 10th among the sugarcane producing states. • Sugarcane production and sugar industry hold great potential in Bihar. • Production as well as productivity both increased between the period 2000-01 and 2006-07. • In 2000-01 production was 3987.6 thousand tones and productivity being 42,648 kg/ha , while in case of all India the same is 295956.2 thousand tones and 68577 kg/ha. • In 2006-07, in Bihar, production has increased to 4249.0 thousand tones and productivity has increased to 41252 kg/ha , while in case of India production and productivity has increased to 283404 thousand tones and 64615 kg/ha. respectively. • Area under sugarcane cultivation has also increased considerably in the State.

11. HORTICULTURE • The agro-climatic conditions are eminently suitable for whole range of • vegetables; • a variety of roots and tubers crops; • perennial fruit crops like mango, litchi, guava, and limes; • annual fruit crops like banana, pineapple and papaya and • spices like ginger, turmeric and chilly, • of late, floriculture is also showing excellent prospects. • The state thus has possibilities for growing a diversified basket of vegetables, fruits, spices, tubers and flowers and medicinal and aromatic plants.

12. HORTICULTURE • Horticulture (Fruits, (Mango, Litchi, Guava, Pineapple, Citrus, Banana, Papaya and Ber) vegetables including tuber and mushroom, spices, honey, medicinal and aromatic plants) occupies 15 per cent of land area. • The state has monopoly in production of litchi and makhana and continue to grow various fruits, vegetables & spices.

13. FRUITS • Major fruits grown in the state are: Mango, Litchi, Guava, Pineapple, Citrus, Banana, Papaya and Ber. • Mango is grown all over the state, main growing areas are Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Patna and West Champaran. • Litchi is mainly grown in Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sitamarhi, East and West Champaran and Darbhanga of North Bihar region. • Pineapple is grown in north- eastern part of the state particularly in Kishanganj, Purnea, Araria, Katihar and Saharsa districts.

14. VEGETABLES • Bihar ranks 3rd in vegetable production in the country • Produces a variety of traditional and non-traditional vegetables. • However, it lacks the basic infrastructure for storage, packaging, transportation, organized marketing system and post harvest handling facilities. • Seed is the most important input which influences the output of vegetables crops. • Vegetable production programme could be strengthened only if its seed production programme is strengthened.

15. SPICES • A variety of spices are produced in Bihar. • At present Bihar produces about 20 thousand tonnes of spices annually from an area of nearly 15, 081 ha. • The important spices are Ginger, Turmeric, Chilly, Coriander, and Garlic. • Chilli accounts for 47.6 percent of the area under spices and 39.5 per cent of the production followed by turmeric, which occupies 26.3 per cent of the area under spices and accounts for 36.4 per cent of the production in the state.

16. FLORICULTURE • The area under loose flower production in the year 2001–02 was 44 ha which has increased to 95 ha in the year 2002-03. • The production has reached to 1757 MT. in the year 2002-03. • During the year 2004-05 the production of flowers increased tremendously after the adoption of Field Demonstration/ Training programmes in the state under Macro mode Management / NHM / National Horticulture Board sponsored programme.

17. APICULTURE • Bihar is one of the leading honey producing states in India. • The main regions in which beekeeping are done are the districts of Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sitamarhi, East & West Champaran, Madhepura, Katihar and Begusarai. • Approximately 3,900 MT of honey was produced in the state out of the total country’s production of 8,400 MT in 2002. • Bihar is the only state producing litchi honey on commercial scale. • The processing industry has not kept pace with the increase in beekeeping in the state with no large processing unit within the state. There are a handful of processing units in the organised sector with most of the processing happening in the unorganised sector.

18. PLANTATION CROPS • Among the plantation crops, coconut has expanded to about 10,000 ha in north Bihar. Tea plantation has also come up in Kishanganj and adjoining district.

19. FRUITS & VEGETABLE PROCESSING • There are little fruit and vegetable processing units in the state. • The industry estimates that only about 2–3 per cent of the total produce is processed. • Farm level pre-processing facilities critical to preserve quality and prevent temperature shocks immediately after harvest such as pre-cooling facilities, cooling facilities, collection centers, grading and sorting systems, washing and cleaning facilities and pack houses, etc., are absent. Warehousing and storage system for fruits and vegetables are absent except for potatoes and a few for onions. • The entire produce after harvest is immediately transported to the markets within and outside state and some to the fruit processing units.

20. Agriculture productivity was much better compared to other state in fifties which is now much below the national average. In last two years, this has been an appreciable growth, due to improved seeds, technologies and inputs, but miles have to go to achieve responsive agriculture.

21. Constraints • This would need infrastructure, technology and inputs. • R&D has to play a vital role. • There is an inequitable distribution of water for irrigation, inadequate number of shallow tube-wells, ineffective use of rain water, and lack of conjunctive use of different irrigation waters are the issues of concern. • Moreover, the Tal and Diara lands can only be irrigated by overhead sprinklers, but the farmers in Bihar do not own overhead sprinklers on account of their poor economic status. • The quantity and quality of the use of inputs, such as fertilizers and seeds in the State is also far below the desired level. • The highly unsatisfactory status of availability of quality seed (seeds & quality planting material) to the farmers is one of the most serious concerns in Bihar.

22. Irrigation • Bihar has 45.67 lakh hectares of irrigated area againstits total geographical area of 93.6 lakh hectares. • While created irrigation capacity of 45.67 lakh hectare means that around 49 per cent of total area is irrigated. • The percentage of irrigated area varies greatly across different regions/districts, from a low of 16 percent (in Jamui) to around 86 percent (in Sheikhpura).

23. Credit Support • Institutional support in terms of hassle-free, timely and adequate credit and agricultural insurance is equally much below the requirement.

24. STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE SECTOR FOR BALANCE PERIOD OF XIth FIVE YEAR PLAN • In order to achieve major objectives of increasing the farm income, while assuring food and nutritional security and enhancing agricultural growth with justice, a series of programmes are planned covering all aspects of agriculture, from inputs to marketing of final products. • They fall into Five major groups: • Inputs, access, supply and quality. • Transfer of technology and extension. • Income generation schemes. • Marketing. • Capacity Building & Institutional Development

25. INPUTS - SEEDS • Considering very low levels of seed replacement rate, it is proposed to continue with a crash programme in introducing new varieties of seeds in the Bihar villages. • Production of certified seeds shall be through seed village programmes. • Distribution of substantial quantities of quality seeds at subsidized rates, • Foundation seeds will have to be produced at government farms and university/KVKs, • Substantial seed processing capacity is proposed to be created in Bihar RajyaBeej Nigam. • Bihar State Seed Certification Agency will also be strengthened to meet certification requirement of a large number of farmers.

26. INPUTS - SEEDS • Similar to field crops, programmes are also planned for increasing availability of quality planting materials and vegetable seed production. • A special programme for potato seed production is envisaged. • For the expanding needs of sugarcane industry, a special seed distribution programme through sugar factories also forms part of this plan of action. • Tissue culture laboratories for banana and sugar cane are also planned for meeting increasing demand.

27. INPUTS – FERTILIZERS • Recognizing the importance of chemical fertilizer in increasing productivity. • Lack of assured availability of these fertilizers, the action plan proposes the State to play a more direct role in import of phosphatic and potassic fertilizers. • Taking note of constraints in supply of these fertilizers, the strategy is to initiate for a massive programme for vermi-compost and green manures. • The programmes are also designed to ensure supply of boron, zinc, gypsum and pyrites at subsidized rates, wherever soil conditions so require. • Another crucial input in the pesticides. A programme for rejuvenating existing, plant protection centres forms a part of the action plan.

28. QUALITY ASPECT OF INPUTS • Soil testing laboratories will be constructed in all the blocks. • At district level, the soil testing laboratories will also have seed testing wing. • Apart from soil and seed testing laboratories, bio-control laboratories (for rearing natural defenders of crops), pesticide and fertilizer laboratories are also planned.

29. FARM MECHANIZATION • Adoption of farm mechanisation is lagging in Bihar. • The Tractor density in the state is also low at 4.93 tractors /1000 ha as against 56.20 tractors/1000 ha in Punjab and 12.2 tractors/ 1000 ha in Uttar Pradesh. • Presently only 11.24 per cent of the total power requirement for farms is estimated to be met from the available tractors in the State. • Considerable potential exists for other farm equipments like power tillers etc since 80 per cent of the total land holdings belong to small and marginal farmers who cannot afford tractors. • The potential for other agricultural implements is very high, considering the present status of mechanised farming activities.

30. INCOME GENERATION SCHEMES • The Strategy to increase the income of the farmers, integrated farming models prepared by ICAR and Rajendra Agriculture University are proposed to be implemented. • The objective is to maximize farm-income through convergence of schemes like dairy, fisheries, horticulture, poultry and duck rearing and crop husbandry ideally on a one-acre.

31. CAPACITY BUILDING AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT • The proposed programme of action calls for rejuvenation of extension machinery. • Revamping of Agriculture Department and capacity building of its personnel form an important part of the Strategy. • Ambitious market infrastructure programme also calls for an institutional mechanism to oversee developmental activities and for asset management. • By repealing Agriculture Produce Market Committee Act, Bihar has ushered in a new era of market reforms. The action plan recognizes that such a situation calls for a major programme of capacity building of both the farmers and governmental staff.

32. CROP DEVELOPMENT • Thrust Crops Identified for Intervention: • Field Crops: Paddy, Wheat, Maize, Arhar, Gram, Lentil, Moong, Pea, Rapeseed/Mustard, Linseed, and Sugarcane. • Horticultural Fruit Crops: Mango, litchi, Guava, Banana, Aonla • Vegetables: Brinjal, Tomato, Okra, Onion, Pea, Potato and Drumstick

33. ACTION PLAN FOR CROP DEVELOPMENT – SEED PLAN(CRASH SEED PLAN)

34. FINANCIAL OUTLAY FOR CRASH SEED PLAN(Rs. In Lakhs)

35. FoundationSeed Production in State Farms • Production of foundation seeds for the crash programme and seed village scheme and for the certified seed production through farmers, will be produced in the rejuvenated state farms. • Breeder seed: Breeder seed procured from the ICAR/SAU institutions for the seed production programme will be multiplied into foundation seed at the seed multiplication farms.

36. FINANCIAL IMPLICATION FOR FOUNDATION SEED PROGRAMME (Rs. In Lakhs)

37. Seed Village Programme • One seed village will be identified in each block in the beginning of crop season. • The scheme proposes to achieve following objectives: • Availability of good quality seed at local level and at reasonable price. • Need based seed production will lead to the availability of improved seed of recommended varieties for the area. • Seeds at relatively cheaper rate will decrease the cost of cultivation. • Additional income by selling the seeds will attract other farmers towards seed production which will generate self employment.

38. FINANCIAL OUTLAY FOR SEED VILLAGE PROGRAMME (Rs. In Lakhs)

39. Distribution of Quality Seeds - Physical and Financial requirements

40. Strengthening Seed Infrastructure - Stepping up of processing and certification facilities • Bihar RajyaBeej Nigam (BRBN): A scheme for infrastructural development for processing, storage and its marketing. BRBN will be supported for establishment of seed processing plants and storage godowns at different places across the state. • Bihar State Seed Certification Agency (BSSCA): TheAgency has the responsibility to ensure the quality standards of the seed produced within the State, and to realize that objective, BSSCA will be strengthened. • Seed Multiplication Farms (S.M. Farms): Seed Multiplication Farms have now been rejuvenated. Foundation seed requirement for the various seed production programme will be met by these S.M. farms. Therefore, they need to be equipped with all the necessary facilities required for successful seed production. As protective measure, construction of boundary walls of SMFs will be an important feature. • Fully Mechanized Agricultural Farm (MAF): Largest farm in the State, the Purnia farm, will be fully mechanized for large scale seed multiplication. It will also have demonstrative effect on the benefits of mechanization for seed production.

41. FINANCIAL OUTLAY(Rs. In Lakhs)

42. HORTICULTURE PLANTING MATERIALS To utilize waste and unproductive land by cultivating nutritious and remunerative fruit crops. Targets for new plantations are • Mango: 15500 ha • Litchi: 4500 ha • Guava: 4500 ha • Aonla: 4000 ha • Banana: 10000 ha

43. Physical Requirement of Planting Material

44. Financial Requirement of Planting Material (Rs. In Lakhs)

45. Vegetable Crop • Vegetable crops identified for the programme: • Brinjal, Tomato, Okra, Onion, Pea, Drumstick and, Potato. • Strategy: Sixty percent of foundation seed will be produced in different departmental farms under Directorate of Horticulture and forty percent of foundation seed will be produced at RAU farms including KVKs . • The programme is similar to the crash programme in the field crops. Foundation seed at 50% cost will be made available to the farmers

46. Physical and Financial Requirements

47. POTATO SEED PRODUCTION • Breeder Seed (B/S) will be made available from the Central Potato Research Institutes, ICAR. • Foundation Seed Stage I (F/S I) will be produced in 30KVK’s under RAU, Bihar, Pusa, Samastipur and Department of Agriculture in different farms. • Total land available under RAU and Department of Agriculture farm will be about 250 ha, in which 150 ha will be provided by RAU and 100 ha. will be made available by Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Bihar. • For production of Foundation Seed Stage II (F/S II) and certified seed it is proposed that progressive farmers, farmer Co-operatives and the potential agencies should be entrusted. • For multiplication as certified seed, a farmer will be received 5 quintals of foundation seed for 0.5 acre area at 50% cost.

48. Physical and Financial Requirement for Potato Seed Production

49. Sugarcane • Sugarcane seed is to be supplied by the sugar factories from their farms. • Promising varieties grown in 12 districts of Bihar are CoP 9301, CoS 96268, CoS 767, BO 139, UP 9530 and BO 147. • The indent of seed will be submitted by the concerned sugar factories to the seed supplying agencies by end of August each year with information to Cane Industry Department and S.R.I., Pusa. • Factory will provide the list of villages and name of the farmers to the Cane Industry Department by the end of July each year along with variety wise seed requirement and source of availability. The cost of seed alongwith transportation cost will be paid by Cane Industry Department to the concerned sugar factories.

50. Factory wise seed requirement for factories in Bihar