Pattern of Agricultural Diversification in Bihar

Abstract

 

With more than half of the total population of the state deriving its livelihood from agriculture, it is the mainstay of the economy of Bihar. Though it provides employment to a large chunk of population but its contribution to the state’s GSDP is only around 20 percent. One of the major reasons for the lower share of agriculture sector in Bihar’s GSDP could be its lower productivity. In order to increase the agricultural productivity, there is a need to revolutionize the agriculture sector, which not only would help in enhancing farmer’s income but would also help in alleviating poverty of the rural population and would lead to the all-round development of the state. Since pressure on land is already high in the state, the scope for further expansion of agriculture in the state is very limited and therefore agricultural diversification becomes the need of the hour