Agriculture is the key to the overall development of the State economy. Agriculture is the backbone of Bihar's economy 81% of workforce and generating nearly 42% of the State Domestic Product. The percentage of population employed in agriculture production system in Bihar is estimated to 81%, which s much higher than the national average. Nearly 42 per cent of GDP of the state (2004-05) has been from agriculture sector (including forestry and fishing). The state has attained self sufficiency in food grains production. Barring maize and pulses productivity of various farm produce in Bihar is much below the national average. Though the area under cultivation is shrinking, there is tremendous scope for income generation, by improving productivity. Adverse climatic condition, like draught and floods, do play a role in decreasing products. But these adverse conditions can be overcome to some extent by irrigation, flood control and drainage schemes. The agriculture production can only be increased to some extent through enhanced cropping intensity, change in cropping pattern, improvement in seeds of high yielding varieties, cultivation practices and with the availability of better post harvest technology etc. State Govt. is trying to re-orient agriculture through diversification policy and other measures.
Website of Agriculture Department (Govt. of Bihar)
