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Bihar is dominated with agriculture and about 77% of state population is dependent on it for their livelihood. Cropping system of Bihar is mainly dependent on rainfall. Rainfall in the state is under good conditions but their management and conservation is not in proper way. So, there is need to adopt advanced water saving technology or renovate/renew existing water saving technology like Nalanda model, Ahar-Pyne system etc. to increase land and water productivity.

Agriculture is the backbone and vital source of wealth of Bihar`s economy. Bihar has a total geographical area of approximately 93.60 lakh hectares, out of which the net sown area is 56.03 lakh hectares and gross sown area is 79.46. About 76% of Bihar state population is engaged in agricultural pursuits. Around 1.04 crores landholdings in the Bihar State of which around 83% are marginal holdings of size less than 1 hectare (Bihar Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute, 2018). About 35.21 lakh hectare net sown area and 43.86 lakh hectare gross sown area are irrigated through different sources canals (33.60%), tubewells (54.60%) and others sources (11.80%). The percentage of net irrigated area is Bihar is approx. 62.50% (Agriculture mechanization Guide for Bihar, 2011). In Bihar, farm holdings are small and scattered. There are about 1.61 crores farm holdings in Bihar, of which 91 percent is marginal & small.

      Adverse climatic condition, like draught and floods, played a major role in decreasing resource generation in states. But these adverse conditions can be overcome to some extent by irrigation, flood control and drainage schemes etc. The agriculture production can only be increased to some extent through enhanced cropping intensity, farm mechanization, introduction of advanced water saving technology like drip & sprinkler, changes in cropping pattern & crop rotation, improvement in seeds of high yielding varieties, crop cultivation practices and with the availability of better post harvest management technology etc.

Bihar is considered the main centre for 2^nd Green Revolution in the country. The annual per capita water availability in Bihar is gradually declining and it stands at 1,200 cumec (Global Water Partnership, 2014). Overall, Bihar was considered in the category of most water stressed states. Water conservation plays a major role in any strategy that aims to alleviate the water scarcity problems in India. With rainfall patterns changing almost every year, the Indian government has started looking at means to revive the traditional systems of water harvesting in the country. Bihar is the most flood prone state of India with 76 per cent of north Bihar living under the recurring threat of flood devastation. The water area of Bihar constitutes about 3.9 percent of the total geographical area.

      Agriculture system in Bihar is mainly dependent on monsoon (June to September). Although around 57% of its gross sown area is irrigated. A heavy rainfall lead to flood and a deficient rainfall could lead to drought. The paradox of flood and drought occur simultaneously almost every year making agriculture highly vulnerable and unstable. Fertile Gangetic alluvial soil, abundant water resources, particularly ground water resources, forms the basis of agriculture in Bihar. The farmers in Bihar grow a variety of crops. Apart from food-grains, the state produces oilseeds, fibre crops, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables and other crops in the season i.e. kharif as well as rabi. Recently, high value horticulture viz., floriculture and aromatic plant cultivation has caught the imagination of the farmers because of its increasing demand and limited supply.

For more details please download the pdf 

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On-Farm Water Management.pdf