Transformation of Agriculture in Jharkhand

Abstract

The study on “Transformation in agriculture in Jharkhand” revealed that the cropping pattern has shifted from lower value crop to high value crops in the state. The area under paddy crop is declining continuously, but acreage under wheat crop is increasing in the state. The study further shows that the minor millets crops area is declining in the state continuously and reached to a negligible level. The performance of pulses and oil seeds crops are improving year after year as indicated by increase in area, production and productivity in the state. The vegetable crop’s area has contributed significant in cropping pattern showing nearly 11% during 2012-13 which was near about 7% in year 2000. The fruit acreage has also increased during 2000 to 2012 in the state. The rate of growth was near about three times in the state during this period. It was also found that there have been significant changes in consumption of chemical fertilizers (NPK) in the state showing near about three times higher from the base year 2001. The consumption of NPK was about 85 Kg, 30 Kg., and about 9.0 Kg. per hectare of cropped area making total 124 kg. The farmers also prefer high yielding varieties and hybrid varieties of any crop in the state. The milk production has also increased from about 9.5 lakh ton to near about 18 lakh tons during 2002-03 to 2012-13. Similarly, the fish production has strongly increased during 2001-02 to 2013-14 which is nearly more than five times from the base period (2001-02). The improved technology in agriculture has considerably increased the total food grain production in the state. On the whole, it is clearly indicated that technology transformation in agriculture has been taken place in the state.