Bihar Krishi Roadmap

Out of the total 93.60 lakh  hectares of geographical land of Bihar about 53.4 lakh hectares is available for cultivation. Bihar is 3rd largest State in India with population of 10,40,99,452  (Census 2011). About 88.7% of them live in rural Areas and majority of them are involved in agricultural practices and that too are subsistence in nature, because most of the farmers are small and marginal having very low land holding. These make the farmers of Bihar vulnerable, as one year of drought may lead to destitution and hunger for them. Besides that Bihar also do not have much industrial development and urbanization to support the farmers with alternative employment. 

Hence to boost farmers' income the Government of Bihar brought three Agricultural Roadmaps from 2008 to 2017. 

These Roadmaps aim at increasing the agricultural output to ensure food and nutrition security, increase in farmers' income through boost in agricultural sector as well as to increase in the prospects of alternative employment opportunities, which in turn will reduce the migration, it also aims at equitable distribution of agricultural growth as well as promotes to maintain ecological balance through organic farming techniques.

Objectives of the Agricultural Roadmaps

Main objectives of the three Roadmaps were as follows:-

1. Food Security.
2. Nutrition Security.
3. Increase in Income of farmers.
4. Employment generation and hence control of out migration.
5. Inclusive growth of agricultural production with equitable participation of women.
6. Conservation of natural resources and their sustainable use.

First Agricultural Roadmap 

Launched in 2007 for 5 years upto 2012. In this roadmap government aimed to 3 basic development in farm sector i.e. Seed Development, Bio-Farming and encourage farmers to use modern agricultural equipments. Also Read: Flood Problems of Bihar and their Solutions

Steps Taken

1. Seed Development:- To achieve this aim government launched two schemes (I). Seed Extension scheme and (II). Seed Gram Scheme. These schemes stressed on the need for availability of certified seeds of at least 23 crops.
2. Bio-Farming:- Government stressed on the bio-farming through influencing farmers for using organic manure and other sustainable techniques of farming. 
3. Modern Agricultural Equipments:- Government in this roadmap tried to increase the farm mechanisation by providing subsidy ot farmers for buying agricultural equipments.

Achievements

The roadmap achieved significant success.

1. The Seed Replacement Ration(SRR) reached a new high, while in the some crops the SRR  reached more than upto 83% in 2012.
2. The production of foodgrain in Bihar touched a record high 178.29 lakh tonne in 2012. 
3. Not only in total production but foodgrain production per hectare also touched a new high.

Second Agricultural Roadmap

This Roadmap was launched by Pranab Muckerjee in 2012. This roadmap aims at achieving (I). Food Security, (II). Nutrition Security and (III). Increase in the income farmers.

Steps Taken

1. These objectives were sought to be achieved through implementing adequate supply of electricity.
2. The government planned to connect habitats/villages having more than 250 people through constructing concrete roads.
3. It also aimed at improving the storage facility by constructing godowns. 
4. To usher the Rainbow Revolution i.e. boosting Agriculture, Horticulture, forestry, sugarcane, poultry, fisheries and Animal husbandry simultaneously to reduce vulnerability of farmers due to uncertain climate and increasing their farm  controincome.To
5. In view of global warming and to maintain ecological balance, government also taken steps to increase the forest cover from 9% to 15% by 2017.

Achievements

1. Total production of foodgrains witnessed a tremendous growth and reached to 252.01 lakh tonnes in 2017 from 178.29 tonnes in 2012.
2. Along with foodgrains oilseeds, fruits and vegetables also saw significant increase.
3. Animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries sector also shown positive growth but this sector lags behind from what it should be.

Third Agricultural Roadmap

This roadmap was launched by President Ramnath Kovind on November 9, 2017 for a period of 5 years i.e. 2017-2022. The roadmap allocated 1.54 lakh crore to all around development of agriculture and allied sectors, including for food processing, irrigation, flood protection and dairy development.

The roadmap also laid a vision to ensure at least one dish on the plate of every Indian over the next five years.

Steps Taken

1. The Roadmap proposed to develop Organic farming Corridors alongside major rivers like Ganga as well as along side National and State Highways. For this government already transferred Rs. 6000 each to 20000 farmer ot enable them to undertake organic farming.
2. Bihar Fisheries college at Kishanganj as established.
3. To boost agriculture government laid the foundation stone of an 11kilovolt agriculture feeder at Naubatpur Block in Patna.
4. The Roadmap also entails on establishing a three layer Bihar vegetable Processing and Distribution cooperative system.
5. Another significant initiative of the Roadmap includes approval of Rs.151.14 crore for providing nutritious food, especially eggs and seasonal fruits, at least once a week to students under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

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