Complete Revision Notes on Agriculture in Bihar for BPSC and Other Competitive Exams in 2025

Complete Revision Notes on Agriculture in Bihar for BPSC and Other Competitive Exams in 2025

Economics- 11

Detailed notes on “Agriculture in Bihar” under the following heads:

• Importance of major crops: Rice, Wheat, Maize, Pulses
• Challenges: Floods, Droughts, Small Land Holdings
• Government Efforts: Krishi Road Map, Irrigation Schemes

Agriculture in Bihar

Agriculture is the backbone of Bihar’s economy, employing about 70% of the workforce and contributing around 18–20% of GSDP. Despite challenges, it plays a vital role in food security, employment, and rural livelihoods.

1. Importance of Rice, Wheat, Maize, Pulses

Rice:

• Staple food crop in Bihar.
• Grown mainly in Kharif season (June–November).
• Requires abundant water, thus more prevalent in North Bihar (floodplains).
• Major rice-growing districts: Purnia, Katihar, West Champaran, Darbhanga.

 Wheat:

• Key Rabi crop (sown in winter, harvested in spring).
• Requires cool temperatures and irrigation.
• Important for food security and PDS.
• Grown widely in districts like Patna, Nalanda, Rohtas, Buxar.

Maize:

• Bihar is the top producer of maize in India (after Karnataka).
• Grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons.
• Used for fodder, food, industrial use (starch, ethanol).
• Districts: Begusarai, Khagaria, Samastipur.

Pulses:

• Vital for nutritional security (protein source).
• Grown in Rabi and summer seasons.
• Include lentil (masoor), gram (chana), arhar (tur).
• Bihar’s soil is suitable, but productivity remains low due to limited irrigation.

2. Challenges: Floods, Droughts, Small Land Holdings

Floods:

• North Bihar (Kosi, Gandak, Bagmati rivers) faces annual floods.
• Kosi River is called the “Sorrow of Bihar”.
• Floods damage crops, displace people, and delay sowing.

Droughts:

• South and central Bihar (Magadh region) often face drought-like conditions due to erratic monsoon.
• Affect wheat and pulse production due to moisture stress.

Small and Fragmented Land Holdings:

• More than 91% of farmers are marginal or smallholders (<2 hectares).
• Limits mechanization, irrigation, and input efficiency.
• Makes farming subsistence-oriented and economically less viable.

Other Issues:

• Low credit access and insurance coverage.
• Post-harvest losses due to lack of storage and marketing.
• Crop yield below national average due to poor seed quality and input use.

3. Efforts: Krishi Road Map, Irrigation Schemes

Bihar Agriculture Road Map

A comprehensive, multi-phase policy initiative launched in 2008, renewed in 2012 and 2017.
Latest version: 2017–2022

Key Features:

• Crop diversification and productivity enhancement
• Soil health card distribution
• Expansion of seed replacement rate and organic farming
• Strengthening agriculture extension services
• Promotion of farmer-producer organizations (FPOs)

Irrigation Initiatives

Minor Irrigation Schemes:

• Check dams, bore wells, canals, and solar pumps encouraged.
• Focus on small farmers in drought-prone districts.

Diesel Subsidy Scheme:

• For farmers to irrigate fields during delayed monsoon or drought years.

Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Abhiyan:

• Emphasis on water conservation, pond renovation, and farm-level irrigation.

Micro-irrigation (drip/sprinkler systems):

• Introduced to tackle water scarcity and improve efficiency.

Credit and Input Support:

• Distribution of Kisan Credit Cards (KCC)
• Promotion of custom hiring centers for farm tools
• Fertilizer and pesticide subsidy via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

Objective Questions

1. Which river is known as the “Sorrow of Bihar”?
A) Ganga
B) Gandak
C) Kosi
D) Son
Answer: C

2. The top maize-producing state in India is:
A) Punjab
B) Bihar
C) Karnataka
D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: C

3. Bihar Agriculture Roadmap was first launched in:
A) 2000
B) 2008
C) 2012
D) 2015
Answer: B

4. Which of the following is not a Rabi crop in Bihar?
A) Wheat
B) Mustard
C) Rice
D) Gram
Answer: C

5. Which scheme provides diesel subsidy for irrigation in Bihar?
A) PM-KISAN
B) Mukhyamantri Krishi Vikas Yojana
C) Bihar Diesel Anudan Yojana
D) Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana
Answer: B

6. What percentage of Bihar’s farmers are marginal or small holders?
A) ~50%
B) ~70%
C) ~91%
D) ~30%

Answer: C