Lok Sabha Question No. 1812 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Agricultural Research in Bihar
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Abhay Kumar Sinha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS' WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS' WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1812

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 th  February, 2026

## Agricultural Research in Bihar

1812. Shri Abhay Kumar Sharma:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS' WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  priority  has  been  accorded  to  sustainable  agriculture,  productivity enhancement and research in the State of Bihar under the Purvodaya Scheme announced for Eastern India;

(b) if so, the amount allocated and spent for Bihar under the said Scheme since 2023 and the concrete outcomes achieved therefrom;

(c) whether the Government acknowledges that the outcomes of agricultural research in Bihar are not effectively reaching farmers; and

(d) whether the Government has carried out any separate assessment of research and extension  services  under  the  Purvodaya  Scheme  in  the  Aurangabad  Parliamentary Constituency?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI  RAM NATH THAKUR)

(a):  Government is implementing National Mission  for Sustainable  Agriculture (NMSA), according  priority  to  sustainable  agriculture  practices  and  productivity  enhancement across the country including the State of Bihar.

(b): Several schemes have been initiated under NMSA, to promote sustainable agriculture practices in the State of Bihar. Per Drop More Crop scheme was implemented from 201516 to increases water use efficiency at the farm level through micro irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation. Till date, Rs 233.75 crore has been released and 35496 ha have been covered under PDMC in the State. Rainfed Area Development was initiated in 2014-15 which focuses on Integrated Farming System for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability. Till date, Rs 2024.74 lakh has been released and an area of 3519 ha covered in the State.  Soil Health Card (SHC) and Soil Health Management (SHM), introduced in the year 2014-15 to promote balanced use of fertilizers. Till date, Rs 8440.87 lakhs have been released and 15653800 number of Soil Health Card have been distributed in the State. National Horticulture Mission (NHM) was implemented in Bihar since 2005-06. From April, 2014 onwards, NHM has been subsumed under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for holistic growth of the horticulture sector. Till date, 34177 ha have been covered under horticulture crops in the State. Under National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) 400 clusters have been formed in  Bihar,  registering  49,855  Farmers,  and  covering  an  area  of  20,000  hectares.  As  on 31.12.2025, an area of 31,783.27 hectares has been brought under organic farming in Bihar under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), benefiting 43,208 farmers. Since 2015-16, a total Central share of ₹7,244.08 lakh has been released to the State of Bihar  under  the  PKVY  scheme.  Further,  during  the  year  2025-26,  an  allocation  of ₹3,419.00 lakh was made to Bihar under PKVY, out of which a Central share of ₹1,710.00 lakh has been released as on 31.12.2025.

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  -Research  Complex  for  Eastern  Region (ICAR-RCER) and its Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK), Buxar is undertaking extension and outreach activities for strengthening research-farmer linkages in many districts of Bihar (Buxar, Gaya, Aurangabad, Jamui, samastipur etc.). The major outreach and extension activities  undertaken  during  the  last  three  years  include  conduct  of  Cluster  Frontline Demonstration, Frontline Demonstration, field days, Kisan Gosthis/Melas, and awareness and  demonstration  programmes,  which  covered  9,250,  6,550  and  7,650  beneficiaries during the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. A total of 268 training programmes were organised for farmers through KVK Buxar, benefiting more than 7,800 farmers during the last three years. In addition, programmes such as demonstrations of released varieties of rice, pulses and other crops, along with activities under various All India Coordinated Research Project including Goat, Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) and Crop Diversification, covered about 7,500 farmers annually. The Institute also produced 50.0 tonnes of quality seed of cereals and pulses, which was made available to farmers through different channels. Overall, ICAR-RCER, Patna and its KVK Buxar together reached about 81,950  farmers  in  the  State  of  Bihar  during  the  last  three  years  for  dissemination  of improved agricultural technologies. ICAR has been actively engaged in bridging the gap between agricultural research and farmers through large-scale, data-driven extension and outreach efforts in Bihar.

(c) & (d): Government through ICAR has established 44 KVKs in Bihar for dissemination of  outcomes  of  agricultural  research  among  farmers  of  the  state  through  technology assessment, demonstration and capacity development among the extension functionaries of  state  governments  and  farmers.  During  2024-25,  these  KVKs  organized  23,181 demonstrations on improved agricultural technologies. In addition, the KVKs trained 1.73 lakh farmers/farm women/rural youth/extension personnel through training programmes and created awareness among 13.09 lakh stakeholders on various technologies related to agriculture  and  allied  sectors  through  different  extension  activities.  To  promote  the adoption of improved crop varieties, these KVKs produced 27837.95 quintals of quality seed of field crops and 24.86 lakh planting materials of horticultural crops.

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