Crops of Bihar | BPSC Preparation: All subjects - BPSC (Bihar) PDF Download

Crop Seasons in Bihar

There are three crop seasons in Bihar which are as follows:

Kharif Crop Season

• Characteristics: Typical of Northern Bihar plain regions.
• Districts Involved: Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Purnea, Saharsa, Madhepura, Sitamarhi, Supaul, Kishanganj, Samastipur, and Katihar.
• Important Crops: Rice, ragi (finger millet), millet, maize, jowar, bajra, cotton, and groundnut.
• Special Notes: Ragi is widely grown in Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Saharsa, Samastipur, and Sitamarhi. Diara land of the Ganga and Kosi river regions extensively cultivate maize.
• Sowing and Harvesting: Sown in May-June and harvested in October-November. Requires less irrigation.

Bhadai Crop Season

• Involves crops that require less time to grow, such as maize, jowar, paddy, bajra, millet, and oilseeds.
• Sowing and Harvesting: Sown in May-June and harvested in August-September.

Aghani Crop Season

• Includes crops sown during the monsoon season (July-August) and harvested during November-December. Dominates crop production in Bihar.
• Key Crop: Rice, with significant production in Purnea, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Saharsa, and Rohtas.

Rabi Crop Season

• Timing: Sown in October-November and harvested in March-April.
• Important Crops: Wheat, grams, barley, rapeseed, and mustard.
• Irrigation: Rabi crops are mostly unirrigated and can thrive in lower temperatures and soil moisture levels.

Zaid Crop Season

• Zaid crops are cultivated from March to June in regions with good irrigation or in wetlands. 
• This season is particularly known for the production of green vegetables, as well as special varieties of rice and maize that thrive in well-irrigated conditions.

Main Crops of Bihar

The important crops of Bihar are as follows:

Rice (Paddy)

• Rice is the primary cereal crop in Bihar, covering 45% of the total cultivable land.
• It relies heavily on monsoon rains, requiring high temperatures, fertile soil, and over 125 cm of rainfall.
• Bihar ranks 6th in India for rice production, with leading producers like Rohtas, Aurangabad, and Banka.
• The state has received the Krishi Karman Award for rice production, and notable varieties include Saket, Prabhat, Sita, Kanak, and Swarna Sab-I.

Types of Rice Grown in Bihar

• Aghani Rice (Paddy): This variety is grown on over 80% of the rice-producing area, primarily in the Gandak-Kosi Doab region, due to the implanted method of rice cultivation.
• Garama Paddy: Covering about 3% of the rice-growing area, Garama Paddy requires well-irrigated conditions.
• Boro Paddy: This variety is grown on less than 2% of the rice-producing area, mainly in the Purnia, East Champaran, and West Champaran districts, and also requires good irrigation.

Wheat

• Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in Bihar, covering about 29% of the total cultivable land.
• It is a Rabi crop, sown in November-December and harvested in March-April.
• Wheat thrives in sandy loam soil with good moisture retention and requires less rainfall and a temperate climate.
• Leading producers include Rohtas, East Champaran, and Buxar districts.
• Bihar ranks 6th in wheat production in India, and the state has seen increased production due to the Green Revolution, which introduced High Yielding Varieties (HYVs), chemical fertilizers, and improved irrigation methods.
• Important wheat varieties in Bihar include C-306, K-9107, HD-2824, etc.

Maize

• Maize, also known as corn, is the third most important crop in Bihar, following rice and wheat.
• It is a Kharif crop, meaning it is sown in the monsoon season, and it thrives in light and clayey soils.
• Key maize-producing regions in Bihar include the South-West areas of Burhi Gandak, Saran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Vaishali, Samastipur, as well as East and West Champaran, Saharsa, and Supaul districts.
• Leading producers of maize in the state are Katihar, Khagaria, and Samastipur districts.
• In the 2017-18 agricultural year, maize production in Bihar was approximately 3,120,770 tonnes.
• Bihar has received the ‘Krishi Karaman Award’ for its maize production, with the state being recognized for its significant contributions to maize cultivation in 2016.

Barley

• Barley is one of the oldest agricultural crops in Bihar and is a Rabi crop, typically sown in October-November.
• Growing Conditions : Barley thrives in regions with lower rainfall and warmer climates. It is more nutritious than wheat and is often grown as a mixed crop.
• Cultivation Areas : The production of barley is highest in East Champaran and West Champaran districts. Other significant producing districts include Gopalganj, Siwan, Vaishali, and Muzaffarpur. Bihar ranks as the 8th largest producer of barley in India.
• Varieties : Some of the important varieties of barley include K-125, Ratna, Jyoti, and Azad.
• Production Data : According to the Economic Survey 2018-19, barley production in 2017-18 was 16.67 thousand tonnes.

Major Pulse Crops in Bihar

Bihar is known for producing a variety of pulses, which are an essential part of the state's agriculture. Here are some of the major pulse crops:

Gram (Chickpeas)

• Importance : Gram is a significant Rabi pulse crop in Bihar, ranking second after wheat in importance.
• Soil Requirements : Gram thrives in Kewal and alluvial soils.
• Major Producing Districts : Rohtas, Kaimur, Bhojpur, Nalanda, Munger, Bhagalpur, Patna, and others.
• Production Data : In 2017-18, gram production was 67.18 thousand tonnes.
• Varieties : Some popular varieties include Pusa-256, Rajendra Chana, and BR-72.

Arhar (Pigeon Peas)

• Soil Requirements : Arhar is grown in less fertile soils.
• Growing Season : It is sown with Kharif crops and harvested with Rabi crops.
• Major Producing Districts : Gopalganj, Darbhanga, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, and Sitamarhi.
• Irrigation and Fertilizer Needs : Arhar does not require irrigation or fertilizers.
• Area Under Cultivation : Grown over 83,000 hectares of land in Bihar.
• Production Data : In 2017-18, arhar production was 28.63 thousand tonnes.

Khesari (Grass Pea)

• Importance : While Khesari is less important among pulses, it is significant in terms of production in Bihar.
• Production Data : In 2017-18, khesari production was 50.31 thousand tonnes.
• Major Producing Regions : Diara land of the Ganga, Tal region, Jalla region, and Kosi river basin.

Green Gram (Moong)

• Growing Season : Sown after the harvest of wheat and before the sowing of rice.
• Major Producing Districts : Munger, Sheikhpura, Bhagalpur, Saharsa, Supaul, Purnea, and others.
• Production Data : In 2017-18, green gram production was 120.19 thousand tonnes.

Ragi (Finger Millet)

• Importance : Ragi is an important coarse grain and is a Bhadai crop that requires less water to grow.
• Soil Requirements : Grown in sandy soil.
• Crop Rotation : Rice can be sown after harvesting ragi.
• Major Producing Districts : Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Vaishali, Gopalganj, Siwan, and Saran.
• Production Data : In 2017-18, ragi production was 98.49 thousand tonnes.

Masoor (Lentils)

• Importance : Masoor is a significant pulse crop in Bihar, grown during the Rabi season.
• Major Producing Districts : Patna is the chief producer, with other important districts being Nalanda, Gaya, Jehanabad, Munger, and Aurangabad.

Major Oilseeds in Bihar

Oilseeds are both food and cash crops in Bihar. The important oilseeds include:

Linseed (Tisi)

• Linseed thrives in deep, moist, and clayey soil. In Bihar, it is primarily cultivated in the Patna, Tirhut, and Bhagalpur divisions.
• The Saran and Gaya districts are the leading producers of linseed, with Darbhanga district achieving the highest productivity per hectare.
• According to the Economic Survey of 2018-19, linseed production in 2017-18 was 10.31 thousand tonnes.

Rapeseed and Mustard

• Rapeseed and mustard hold significant importance among oilseeds in Bihar, with their oil predominantly used for edible purposes.
• These crops are cultivated in every district of Bihar, although they are primarily grown in the plain regions.
• Notable districts for mustard cultivation include Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, and Patna, while Purnea district boasts the highest productivity per hectare.
• The Economic Survey of 2018-19 reported rapeseed and mustard production in 2017-18 at 98.49 thousand tonnes.

Sesame Seeds

• Sesame seeds are a vital oilseed in Bihar, used both as an edible product and in cosmetic items.
• The state produces both black and white sesame seeds, with Supaul district leading in production. Other significant producing districts include Gaya, East Champaran, and Buxar.
• The Economic Survey of 2018-19 indicated sesame seed production in 2017-18 at 1.38 thousand tonnes.

Castor Seed

• Castor seeds are utilized as fuel, in smoothing agents, and in the soap industry. They are grown in almost every district of Bihar, primarily on less fertile and rough land.
• Major producing districts include Bhagalpur, Munger, Patna, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Purnea, and Saran.
• The Economic Survey of 2018-19 reported castor seed production in 2017-18 at 0.02 thousand tonnes.