Patna District Anddarbhanga Study Villages
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Agricultural transformation in VDSA villages in Bihar Abhay Kumar1, RKP Singh2, KM Singh1, N Chandra1, Pankaj Kumar1 and BP Bhatt1 1ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna; 2International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, India Introduction Distribution of crop area across different yield category, % • Agriculture contributes about 20% to GSDP and provides Rice-Patna district Rice-Darbhanga district employment to about 70% of working force in rural area • The state economy growing annually by 9.0% (2007-13), with <2 t/ha robust growth (4-5%) in agriculture and livestock sector 2- 3 t/ha 2010/11 • Though, agriculture largely depends on monsoon, only one 3- 4 t/ha 2010/11 normal rainfall year during last four years in state > 4 t/ha • Foodgrain- mostly fine cereals dominate the cropping pattern in VDSA villages 2013/14 2013/14 • However, importance of pulse crops growing in the village. Wheat-Patna district Wheat-Darbhanga district Objective • To examine the changes in cropping pattern in VDSA villages in < 1.5 t/ha Bihar state. 1.5 -2.0 t/ha 2010/11 2010/11 • to examine the trend of agricultural transformation in the 2- 3 t/ha study villages. > 3 t/ha Data and methodology 2013/14 2013/14 • Survey Area: Two villages each in Patna district and Darbhanga district of Bihar Ferlizer applicaon in VDSA villages (NPK in kg/ha) • Survey year: 2010-11 to 2013-14 250 • Sampling: Panel survey of 40 households from each village, Patna Darbhanga comprising 10 from each category viz.- labour, small, medium 200 and large category. Total sample size: 160. 150 Results Change in Cropping pattern 100 • Rice and wheat still dominating- due to home consumption and assured market 50 • Lower rainfall- triggered diversion of crop area to pulses & 0 potato, but only temporarily 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 • Prosperous villages (in Patna dist) allocating more area to fodder crop Changes in input-use and crop yield • Rainfall still plays key role in determining gross cropped area, • Use of Tractor, thresher and diesel pumps increased many fold cropping pattern and intensity of cropping in Bihar. and a sharp decline in use of human and bullock labour observed Share of different crops in Gross Cropped Area in VDSA villages • Fertilizer application increased, though there is significant difference in both the districts Patna district Darbhanga district • This is clearly reflected in the crop yield of two major crops i.e. Paddy rice and wheat Wheat • Proportion of irrigated area increased to more than 70%, mainly 8.7, 9% Pulses 38% through diesel engine operated private tube wells 2010-11 2010-11 Oilseed • Inadequate irrigation applied by poor farmers in Darbhanga district 44% Vegetable • Area producing more than 4.0 t/ha rice and more than 3.0 t/ha Fodder crops of wheat increased in VDSA villages Other crops 2013/14 2013/14 2013/14 • However yield realisation in Darbhanga district is very low as compared to that in Patna district. Per hectare use of human, machine and bullock in VDSA villages, Bihar Conclusions 90 90 80 80 • Pulses and vegetables find place in unfavourable weather 70 70 e condition ar 60 60 e 50 50 ar • Irrigation- costly input due to high dependence on fossil fuel for ys/hect 40 40 groundwater irrigation 30 30 Hour/hect Manda 20 20 • Lack of institutional support in providing cheaper credit and 10 10 modern technology (seed) in remote villages 0 0 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 • Four years is very short period to notice agricultural Human labour, Patna Human labour, Darbhanga Machine labour, Patna transformation. The study should continue to understand the Machine labour, Darbhanga Bullock labour, Darbhanga extent and causality of agricultural transformation. Science with a human face Funding support: About ICRISAT: www.icrisat.org VILLAGE DYNAMICS IN SOUTH ASIA Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ICRISAT’s scientific information: http://EXPLOREit.icrisat.org 2015 March.