Farming in Bihar: Monsoon & Stagnant Yields

Part 2 · The yield record

Is Agricultural Yield Stagnant in Bihar?

The numbers show growth, and in some crops Bihar is above the national average. But growth has been uneven.

Wheat and maize fields at harvest with a farmer weighing grain on a scale

Growth slower than India, but yields rising

Bihar's agricultural growth, at 2.04%, was lower than the all-India average growth of 3.12% during 2001-02 to 2016-17. This happened despite a stable political environment, improvement in investment on rural infrastructure, and reforms in agricultural marketing.
A comparison of the actual yield of major crops in Bihar with crop yield at the national level indicates that the yield of major crops under consideration shows an increasing trend over time.
- The yields of rice and wheat in Bihar were slightly lower than their corresponding yields at the national level.
- However, with a trend growth of about 4.40% in rice and 1.77% in wheat during the period 2000-01 to 2016-17, the yields of these crops are certainly expected to surpass the national average in the short run.
- The yields of other crops such as maize, green gram, lentil, rapeseed, and mustard in Bihar were well above the average yields obtained at the national level.
The total foodgrain production in Bihar stood at 162 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 (fall nearly 1% from 2018-19), compared to 147.50 lakh tonnes in 2014-15, recording a growth rate of 4.14 percent.
The production of cereals recorded an increase from 143.21 lakh tonnes in 2017-18 to 158.58 lakh tonnes in 2018-19, an increase of 4.21 percent.
- A large part of this increase was due to its higher productivity, which grew from 2328 kg per hectare in 2014-15 to 2636 kg per hectare in 2018-19, registering a growth of 4.31 percent.

Yields of major crops in Bihar (kg per hectare)

Surge in wheat and maize yield: according to Bihar government's department of agriculture, wheat production in 2005-06 was 1,379 kg per hectare which rose to 2,797 kg per hectare in 2012-13. In 2018-19, the wheat production was 2,998 kg per hectare.
In 2005-06, Maize production was 2,098 kg per hectare which increased to 3,975 kg per hectare in 2012-13. The maize production in 2018-19 was 4,771 kg per hectare.
In 2005-06, rice production in Bihar was 1,075 kg per hectare which rose to 2,523 kg per hectare in 2012-13.
- However, the productivity of rice declined by 3.61 percent from 2,523 kg per hectare in 2012-13 to 1948 kg per hectare in 2018-19.
The production of pulses stood at 4.53 lakh tonnes in 2018-19, growing at a rate of 1.89 percent per annum during 2014-15 to 2018-19.
The productivity of oilseeds increased from 1093 kg per hectare in 2014-15 to 1247 kg per hectare in 2018-19, recording a growth of 4.0 percent per annum. Except linseed, groundnut, and sunflower, all other oilseeds registered growth in their productivity level.

Wheat yield (kg/ha)

2018-192,998
2012-132,797
2005-061,379

Maize yield (kg/ha)

2018-194,771
2012-133,975
2005-062,098

Rice yield (kg/ha)

2012-132,523
2018-191,948
2005-061,075

Cereal yield (kg/ha)

2018-192,636
2014-152,328

So, are yields stagnant?

Hence, there is an improvement in the crop yield over time. Between 2011-12 and 2018-19, India's growth rate was 7.5 per cent while it was 13.3 per cent in Bihar.

Growth in production in crop sector in Bihar owes a great deal to expansion in productivity, rather than increases in area, since the scope for any additional land for cultivation is very limited in the state. This also proves that low yield cannot be the reason for poor agricultural growth.

Part 3 · The constraints in attaining higher yield

What Holds Bihar's Yields Back

From the colonial Permanent Settlement to fragmented plots, thin public spending and pests: the causes behind low yields.

Tiny fragmented plots separated by bunds, a farmer with an old plough and a dry canal

The state's colonial legacy

Permanent settlement introduced by British rule caused a long term harm to the agriculture sector.
It created a class of intermediaries who were only interested in realising maximum revenue. Agriculture development took a backseat for a long period of time.
Example: A zamindar who only collected rent had no reason to dig a canal or improve the soil; the tenant who farmed had no money and no security to do it.
The conditions created during British rule continues to impede agricultural growth even after independence.

Problem with land use and land fragmentation

Bihar has around 8.6 percent of India's population, while its agricultural land area is only 3.8 percent of India.
Cropping intensity of Bihar is 144 percent while that of Punjab is 186 percent.
Example: A cropping intensity of 144% means that, on average, a field in Bihar is cropped 1.44 times a year; in Punjab it is 1.86 times.
Around 11 percent of the total geographical area in Bihar falls under total fallow land.
Fragmented land holdings: according to agriculture census 2015-16, the small and marginal landholdings which are less than two hectares, account for nearly 97 percent of the landholdings in Bihar, operating about 76 percent of the total area of operational holdings in the state during 2015-16. The marginal landholdings have shown an increase of 1.5 percent between 2010-11 and 2015-16.
- The average size of landholdings in Bihar during 2015-16 is only 0.39 hectares.
Farming for subsistence which makes scale of economy in question with majority of small holdings.
- The large share of foodgrains in the total gross cropped area at 94.0 percent in 2018-19 is indicative of the subsistence nature of agriculture in the state.

Dependence on monsoon and inadequate irrigation facilities

Erratic monsoon leads to droughts, deficient rain and floods. It leads to low overall productivity of the crops.
The decline in paddy yield in 2018-19 was because of the changing rainfall pattern in Bihar. Especially, rice is one of the most water intensive crops, and persistent drought or deficient rain can impact its yield.
Government data shows that only 63% of the cropped area in Bihar is under irrigation.
- e.g. pulses are largely grown under rainfed conditions and, therefore, are prone to high fluctuations in yield.

Low public expenditure

In Bihar Budget 2021-22, the state has allocated 3.7% of its total expenditure towards agriculture and allied activities. This is significantly lower than the average allocation for agriculture by states (6.3%).
The public expenditure from state budget for agricultural research and education has been on a decline during the last five years.

Other constraints

The low level of crop diversification:
- Cereals dominate the cropping pattern in the state, occupying more than 86 percent of the gross cropped area. Within cereals, rice and wheat together contribute more than 70 percent of the total gross cropped area.
- Both oilseeds and fibre crops have seen a steady decline in their share in gross cropped area in the last five years.
Low seed replacement rate:
- e.g. The Seed Replacement Rates (SRR) for kharif paddy which stood at 42.9 percent in 2016-17 decreased to 41.3 percent in 2018-19. However, it is yet to reach the target of 50 percent as per the Agricultural Road Map III.
Example: An SRR of 41.3% means fewer than half of the paddy fields were sown with fresh certified seed; the rest used seed saved from the last harvest, which yields less.
Unscientific nature of use of fertiliser has affected the growth of crop productivity. Among all agricultural seasons, the consumption of urea has been the highest at 2183.7 thousand tonnes, accounting for 41.7 percent of the total fertilizer consumption during 2018-19.
The poor functioning of agricultural markets, reflected in the instability in the prices of agricultural produces. It affects the farmer's economic condition to invest in the agriculture activities.
Semi-feudal agrarian structure in Bihar:
- It is visible in the Inequitable land distribution and perverse land tenure system.
- Among all the Indian states, land reform have been worst failure in Bihar, even when it took the first initiative in this direction by abolishing the zamindari system in 1953.
- It disincentivizes the investment in farm by the cultivator affecting the growth of productivity.
Low-access of credit and prominent role of unorganised creditors affecting decisions of farmers in purchasing of inputs and selling of outputs.
Less use of technology, mechanisation: It is mainly because of subsistence nature of agriculture, small land holding and lack effort to introduce green revolution in Bihar.
Land degradation: According to one study, more than 60% of the total land area of Bihar is affected by degradation, which results in 14% loss of the total value of its agricultural production.
Pest attack:
- e.g. in 2019, huge quantity of Maize crops is said to have fallen prey to the deadly Fall Armyworm (FAW) in Bihar. In 2020, there was fear of locust attack however there was no significant impact of production.
Poor infrastructure for farming making more dependence on weather, marketing and supply chain suitable for high value crops.

Cropping intensity

Punjab186%
Bihar144%

Budget share for agriculture, 2021-22

States' average6.3%
Bihar3.7%

Share of India

Population8.6%
Farm land3.8%

Part 4 · The nature of the Indian monsoon

Why the Monsoon Is So Unpredictable

Many forces, from the ITCZ to El Niño, shape each year's monsoon. Their interplay makes it hard to forecast and harder to plan around.

Factors which influence the extent of Indian Monsoon

ITCZ

Movements of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

Jet stream

Subtropical jet stream.

El Niño / La Niña

El Nino/ La Nina.

MJO

Madden Julian oscillation.

IOD

The Indian Ocean Dipole.

Climate change

Changing climate.

AEJ

African Easterly jet.

A monsoon of breaks and spells

Due to the complex interplay between above factors, the Indian monsoon is known for its unpredictability.
The duration of monsoon is between 100-120 days from early June to mid September.
Around the time of its arrival, the normal rainfall increases suddenly and continues constantly for several days.
The monsoon has a tendency to have 'breaks'; thus, it has wet and dry spells. The alternation of dry and wet spells vary in intensity, frequency, temporal and spatial distribution and duration.
Example: A two-week 'break' in July after a good start can wilt freshly transplanted paddy, even if the season's total rainfall finally turns out normal.

Part 5 · How the variable monsoon hurts farm planning

How a Variable Monsoon Upsets Agricultural Planning

This variable nature of Indian Monsoon adversely affect the planning of agriculture development: sowing, cropping choices, yields, prices, incomes and policy.

Rainfed farming and Bihar's rainfall

In India, 51% of total agricultural land is rainfed. While in Bihar, the percentage of net irrigated sown area is 62.5%.
Bihar receives annual rainfall amounting to 1000 mms, bulk of which comes from the south-west monsoon. However, erratic rainfall patterns and recurring droughts leading to scarcity of water for irrigation have affected achieving higher productivity.

The irregularity in its arrival and its retreat sometimes disturbs the farming schedule. Thus, the sowing cycles gets affected.
- Major crop-sowing takes place in July. This is the critical monsoon month for the agriculture sector when more than 50.0% of the Kharif crop sowing takes place. Delayed rainfall may disrupt this cycle.
Cropping decisions: 55% of India's arable land dependent on precipitation, the amount of rainfall is the main factor influencing the decision making by the farmers.
It is also difficult to introduce modern farming practices in rain-fed areas due to variable nature of agriculture. It is one of the reason of backwardness of agriculture.

Chain 1 · From weak rain to weak finances

Weak Monsoon rains → crop failure → price rise and lower income of people → lower demand → low industrial output → lesser revenue for the government → financial issue for the agricultural development.

Chain 2 · From poor monsoon to imports

Poor monsoon → lesser crop output → problem of food security → the country may even need to import.

Part 6 · Measures to remove the constraints

Raising Yields and Taming the Monsoon's Risks

Land reforms, seeds, irrigation, credit and research to lift yields; water storage, insurance, credit and resilient crops to soften the monsoon's blows.

Measures to remove them

Implementation of Comprehensive Land Reforms:
- A serious attempt to implement the land reforms legislation should be made.
- It includes: A ceiling on landholdings, Consolidation of holdings, computerisation of land records, settlement and regulation of tenancy etc.
- The small and marginal landholdings which are less than two hectares, account for nearly 97 percent of the landholdings in Bihar, operating about 76 percent of the total area of operational holdings in the state during 2015-16.
- The average size of landholdings in Bihar during 2015-16 is 0.39 hectares (as per Agriculture Census, 2015-16). The Consolidation of holdings will immensely help in the improvement of productivity in Bihar.
Example: Consolidation (chakbandi) joins a farmer's five scattered strips into one compact plot, so one tubewell and one tractor trip can serve the whole field.
Improved Seeds:
- Its impact was visible during green revolution in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh areas.
- Also farmers should also be educated in the methods of sowing, maturing and irrigating the new high-yielding varieties of seeds.

Part 7 · What governments have already done

Steps Already Taken by the State and the Centre

Government has already taken various steps in these directions: road maps, missions, irrigation subsidies, tubewells, credit and insurance.

The State Government is implementing Agriculture Roadmap since 2008. It has led to laudable achievements in agriculture sector.
- The Government of India has conferred the Krishi Karman Award to the state on 2nd January 2020, for its achievements in production and productivity of Maize and Wheat.
Under the Chief Minister Horticulture Mission, there is a provision of grants for promoting roof top horticulture in five cities of the state, including Patna.
- Out of the total allocated amount of Rs. 4126.31 lakh, an expenditure of Rs. 3569.86 lakh has been incurred under the scheme.
The Bihar State Organic Mission is being implemented in 12 districts of the state, with a total approved sum of Rs. 15,588.58 lakh for the period 2019-20 to 2021-22. The main objectives of the scheme is to promote organic farming in the state, protect the environment, soil and water resources from pollution and make farming sustainable.
- It also aims at increasing the value of produce to ensure better incomes for farmers.
- Under the Adoption and Certification Programme of organic seeds, the farmers will be provided certification for adoption of organic seeds.
Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is a centrally sponsored scheme, which aims to increase the income of farmers by providing income support of Rs. 6000 per year. This support will be provided to all farmer families in three equal instalments of Rs. 2000 every four months.

Conclusion on yields

Thus, a holistic approach is needed to deal with the variety of issues related with the agricultural yield in Bihar. Only with the participation of private sector, civil societies, scientific community and local government the crop yield in Bihar can realise its potential in a sustainable manner.

Conclusion on the monsoon

Thus, the variable nature of monsoon remains a challenge for the planners of agricultural development. And multi-dimensional holistic approach is needed to mitigate its adverse impact.

Exam preparation

BPSC Mains Previous Year Questions

Every question this page prepares you for, with the parts that answer it.

Q146th BPSC · 2005

Why is per hectare production of agriculture yields stagnant in Bihar? Explain their basic causes and also suggest important measures to remove them.

Study:The Two Questions Are Yields Stagnant?Why Yields Lag Measures & Way Forward Steps Taken

Q253rd–55th BPSC · 2012

How far does the variable nature of Indian monsoon adversely affect the planning of agricultural development in India? Discuss it with special reference to Bihar.

Study:The Two Questions The Monsoon Monsoon & Planning Measures & Way Forward Steps Taken

Quick revisionThe constraints in one place Quick revisionConclusion on yields Quick revisionConclusion on the monsoon

Farming in BiharMonsoon & Stagnant Yields

Bihar's Farms: Rich Land, Uncertain Rain