chapter v cropping pattern, crop diversification and value addition

Table 5.6: Indicative Targets of Production of Principal Crops in 2020 (Area in LakhHa, Production in Lakh mt, Productivity in Q/ha.)Particulars Rice Wheat Maize PulsesTotalFoodgrainsOilseedsArea 33.98 20.00 8.65 9.70 72.33 2.00Production 100.98 61.00 45.00 15.00 221.98 2.20Productivity 29.72 30.50 52.00 15.40 27.00 11.00Note: Upland paddy may be replaced by arhar and urad; wheat may be replaced by wintermaize. Additional area for pulses will come from current fallow land with additionalsource of irrigation.Source: Presentation before the Steering Group by Agriculture Department, Government ofBihar.5.2.2 Adding Value to Existing CropsGiven the abundance of labour, and small size of the holdings, there are many crops,especially among fruits, vegetables, and spices wherein Bihar can emerge as an importantplayer. With proper quality control, farmers producing the traditional foodgrains should behelped to exploit the niche markets. Efforts could also be made to add value to thebyproducts, such as chaff, and also to encourage on-farm primary processing of crops.5.2.3 Propagating a Mixed Farming PatternIn moving towards high value crops, small-marginal farmers face high risks. One of theways of mitigating the risk is to adopt a mixed cropping strategy. As in other parts of thecountry, in Bihar also, small farmers always follow a mixed farming pattern on theirland. However, there is no systematic planning of the crops. Efforts could be made toencourage farmers to reserve a small area for non-foodgrain crops suited for differentagro-ecological zones of the state.5.2.4 Identifying Areas for Intensive Cultivation of FruitsAlthough Bihar has tremendous potential for the production of fruits and vegetables, thestate lags far behind other states such as Bengal and Maharashtra in this regard (see Box5.1). As the Horticulture Mission is covering substantial parts of the state, systematicefforts could be made to identify areas for special attention in terms of the growing offruits. The necessary infrastructure to ensure profitable cultivation of fruits needs to beprovided. The indicative targets for fruit production are suggested in Table 5.7.6