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Transforming Bihar Agriculture for Improving Food Security -Challenges and Opportunities
P K Joshi
International Food Policy Research Institute
Consultation Workshop on
‘A Food Secure Bihar: Challenges and Way Forward’
Supported by SDC for a project on India-Food Security Portal
6 August 2014, Patna, Bihar

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International Food Policy Research Institute
Issues covered
1.Identify opportunities for higher, sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth
2.Propose interventions for transforming agriculture and sequence priorities

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International Food Policy Research Institute
Key characteristics of Bihar agriculture
Abundant water; abundant sun shine; abundant labour
Concurrent twin problems of drought and flood
High poverty and acute under-nourishment

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International Food Policy Research Institute
Smallholder agriculture
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Holdings
Area
89.6
53
6.7
19.6
3
18.2
0.7
9.3
<1.0 ha
1-2 ha
2-4 ha
>4.0 ha
Tiny size of holding
0.43 ha in 2005/06
0.75 ha in 1995/96
<0.5 ha: 72% holdings commanding 27% area
0.16 ha of < 0.5 ha
<1.0 ha: 90% holdings
Commands 50% area
Joint holdings (13%)
<0.5 ha: 12% holdings
10 ha>: 40% holdings

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International Food Policy Research Institute
How to unleashing opportunities?
4 pronged strategy
Innovations
Institutions
Incentives
Infrastructure
Harness untapped yield reservoir
Leverage power of improved technologies
Utilize fallow lands
Promote agridiversification & agro-processing
High-value & remunerative commodities
Labor absorbing & water efficient commodities

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International Food Policy Research Institute
1. Bridge the yield gapsRice yield gaps: FLD and sate average (t/ha)
Yield gap: 131-300%
FLD yield: 6.29 t/ha
State avg: 1.55 t/ha
0.5 t/ha in Bhagalpur to 2.9 t/ha in Bhojpur
Rajendra Mahsuri-1; Rajendra Sweta
Swarna-Sub 1for flood- prone areas

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International Food Policy Research Institute
Yield gaps contt…
Wheat yield gaps
86%: ranging from 70% in zone III to 158% in zone II
Maize yield gaps
Rainy season: 103-141%
Causes of high yield gaps
High uncertainty and yield risks
Non-availability of improved varieties
Low seed replacement rates
Low and imbalance fertilize use

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International Food Policy Research Institute
Yield gaps in dairy sectorMilk yield l/animal/year
Items
Crossbred
Indigenous
Buffalo
Experiment station yield (Maximum)
7275
2768
3200
Attainable yield (Maximum)
3386
1589
2610
Average actual farm Yield
1541
910
1560
Yield gap I
3889
1179
590
Yield gap II
1845
679
1050
Yield gap I % of Experiment station yield
79
67
51
Yield gap II % of attainable
54
43
40

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International Food Policy Research Institute
2. Connect invention to innovation: potential of hybrid rice
Yield range, t/ha
Average yield, t/ha
Districts
< 5.00
4.67
West Singhbhun (4.81); Dumka (4.29); Chatra (4.92)
5.0 –6.0
5.75
Ranchi (5.72); Godde (5.64); Koderne (5.90)
6.0 –7.0
6.33
Lohardaga (6.03); Shibganj (6.89); Palamau (6.06)
> 7.00
7.43
Bokaro (7.54); Gharwa (7.06); Dhanbad (7.98); Pakur (7.07); East Singhbhum (7.54)

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International Food Policy Research Institute
3. Emerging hybrid maize in Bihar (yields t/ha)
1.72.412.633.185.666.6601234567RainyWinterLocalCompositeHybrids

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International Food Policy Research Institute
4. Climate smart agriculture: farmers’ preferences to various technology interventions
Bihar
1.Laser land Levelling
2.Rain water conservation
3.Systems of Rice Intensification
4.Green manuring
5.Crop Diversification
6.Crop Insurance

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International Food Policy Research Institute
Investment and its impact on crop sector
Item
Unit
Current
20% Inv
% Change
Production
m t
10.89
17.11
57.00
Income
bRs
107.00
135.30
26.00
Employment
m days
403
435
8.00
Water use
000 m c m
33.45
22.43
-33.00
Income LS
bRs
35.00
53.86
53.00
Emission
M t CO2 eq
14.80
13.26
-10.00

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International Food Policy Research Institute
5. Harness potential of rice-fallow
Extent of rabi-fallow area
1.2
1.7
2.2
4.4
9.5
11.6
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Rice-fallow area, m ha
Orissa
W Bengal
Bihar
MP
4 States
India
31
37 37
78
47
38
0
20
40
60
80
Rabi fallow as of
kharif rice. %
Orissa
W Bengal
Bihar
MP
4 States
India
18 10
15
38 19
Orissa W Bengal Bihar MP Other

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International Food Policy Research Institute
Constraints to use rice-fallow lands
Abiotic
Low residual moisture (91-97%); terminal drought (63-78%)
Crop improvement
Lack of short duration pulses and rice varieties (64-97%); pest problems (30-62%)
Resource constraints
Lack of inputs and cash to buy seeds and other inputs (>90%)
Access to information about varieties and management
Source of information: 88-97% by NGOs & 14-23% by extension staff
Grazing lands
Crop damage due to grazing (almost 100%)
Missing markets
High production risk (22-60%)and price risk (18-46%)

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International Food Policy Research Institute
6. Agricultural diversification: Share of food commodities in value of agricultural output, %
1990/
91
2000/ 01
2008/09
Paddy
20
13
11
Wheat
14
11
9
Maize
3
3
2
Pulses
7
3
2
F & Veg
14
36
24
L’stock
30
25
42
Others
12
9
10
Diversification towards livestock sector
F & V and L’stockshares 66% in VOAO
Declining size of holdings
Rising demands
COMFED (dairy)
Membership up
17.282 m in 1999/00
48.96 m in 2010/11
Milk collection up
281.08 thkg/day in 1999/00
608.38 thkg/day in 2006-07

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International Food Policy Research Institute
7. Jute and Mesta: promising crops in changing scenario
State-wise cultivated Area (Million Ha) under 'Jute & Mesta' in India during year 2009-10
West Bengal, 0.62, 69%
Bihar, 0.14, 15%
Assam, 0.07, 8%
Others, 0.08, 8%
State-wise Production of Jute & Mesta (Million bales of 180 Kg each)
West Bengal, 9.40, 80%
Bihar, 1.28, 11%
Assam, 0.74, 6%
Others, 0.40, 3%
Area (Million Ha), Production (10 Million bales of 180 Kgs. each) of Jute & Mesta at All-
India level during period 1950-51 to 2009-10
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1950-51
1952-53
1954-55
1956-57
1958-59
1960-61
1962-63
1964-65
1966-67
1968-69
1970-71
1972-73
1974-75
1976-77
1978-79
1980-81
1982-83
1984-85
1986-87
1988-89
1990-91
1992-93
1994-95
1996-97
1998-99
2000-01
2002-03
2004-05
2006-07
2008-09
2010-11*
Years
Area and Production
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Yield
Area (Million) Production (10 Million Bales of 180 kgs. each) Yield (Kg/Ha)
Source: Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 201, Ministry of Agriculture, GoI

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International Food Policy Research Institute
Global scenario of Jute Production
Production of Jute in the World durign year 2010
Thousand Tonnes %
India 1743.0 57.0
Bangladesh 1200.6 39.3
China 40.0 1.3
Uzbekistan 21.7 0.7
Nepal 21.0 0.7
Others 29.6 1.0
World 3055.9 100.0
Production
Country
Production of Jute (Millions Tonnes) in India, Bangladesh and China during period
1961 to 2010
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
Years
Production (Million Tonnes)
Bangladesh China India
Source: FAOStat

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International Food Policy Research Institute
8. Prospects for agro-processing sector
Bihar food market: US$ 9 billion & expected to grow to US$ 19 billion by 2015 (110% increase)
45% is processed food market
Prospects for cereals, pulses, oilseeds
Rice milling installed capacity is inadequate
Maize processing insignificant
Starch, corn oil, corn flacks, poultry feed
Fruits, vegetables, sugarcane, potato, tobacco, etc
Fruit juice, fruit pulp, squash, pickles, tomato sauces/pulp/paste, jam/jelly, fruit beverages
Makhanaprocessing

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International Food Policy Research Institute
Constraints in agro-processing sector
Agro-processing is with the unorganized sector
Absence of pre-processing facilities
Pre-cooling, cooling, grading, sorting, pack houses
High post-harvest losses
Papaya: 30-50%; Banana: 15-25%; Cabbage: 41-44%; Potato, Brinjal, Onion, cauliflower: 33%
Power is a major constraint

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II
Interventions for Accelerating Sustainable Agricultural Production

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International Food Policy Research Institute
Needed interventions and way forward
More investment in agriculture
Flood control, irrigation, drainage management; & land development
Drainage canal from north to south
Promote dairy sector (veterinary hospitals & AI facilities)
Develop markets
Agricultural research and extension
Reprioritize research agenda
More multi-disciplinary research in farming system mode at sub- regional level
Focus on management of natural resources
Priority for rain water management
Management practices for alleviating abioticconstraints

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International Food Policy Research Institute
Interventions….
Connect invention and innovation
Massive seed production program: Hybrids (maize, vegetables)
Saplings of fruit trees
Promote climate smart agriculture
Provide incentives to connect farmers with markets
Special agriculture zone
Cereals, fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish
Develop markets
Enforce regulatory mechanisms for assured prices
Attract corporate sector for developing agro-processing
Strengthen institutions
Land reforms (consolidation, ownership….)
Pro-poor (smallholder agriculture): collective production and marketing, contract farming, farmers’ cooperatives
Strengthen credit, insurance, services, and extension services

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International Food Policy Research Institute
Bihar marching for transformation for improving food security
Thank you