**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding agricultural research in Bihar under the Purvodaya Scheme. It highlights the government's initiatives, including the implementation of the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and various sub-schemes, to promote sustainable agriculture and enhance productivity. The response also details the efforts made by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through its Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to disseminate agricultural technologies and bridge the gap between research and farmers. The report provides an overview of the schemes and initiatives in Bihar as of December 31, 2025, and refers to programs through 2025-2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA):**
* The government is implementing NMSA across the country, including Bihar, prioritizing sustainable agriculture practices and productivity enhancement.
* **Schemes under NMSA:**
* **Per Drop More Crop (PDMC):** Implemented since 2015-16 to increase water use efficiency through micro-irrigation technologies. Rs 233.75 crore released, covering 35496 ha.
* **Rainfed Area Development:** Initiated in 2014-15, focusing on Integrated Farming System for enhancing productivity and minimizing climate risks. Rs 2024.74 lakh released, covering 3519 ha.
* **Soil Health Card (SHC) and Soil Health Management (SHM):** Introduced in 2014-15 to promote balanced fertilizer use. Rs 8440.87 lakhs released, and 15653800 Soil Health Cards distributed.
* **National Horticulture Mission (NHM):** Implemented since 2005-06. Since April 2014, subsumed under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). 34177 ha covered under horticulture crops.
* **National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF):** 400 clusters formed, registering 49,855 farmers and covering 20,000 hectares.
* **Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY):** 31,783.27 hectares brought under organic farming as of 31.12.2025, benefiting 43,208 farmers. A total Central share of ₹7,244.08 lakh has been released to Bihar under PKVY since 2015-16. During 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 was released as on 31.12.2025.
* **ICAR's Role in Agricultural Research and Extension:**
* ICAR and its KVKs (Buxar) are undertaking extension and outreach activities for strengthening research-farmer linkages.
* Activities include Cluster Frontline Demonstrations, field days, Kisan Gosthis/Melas, and awareness programs.
* 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 established 44 KVKs in Bihar for disseminating research outcomes.
* In 2024-25, KVKs organized 23,181 demonstrations, trained 1.73 lakh farmers/farm women/rural youth/extension personnel, and created awareness among 13.09 lakh stakeholders.
* KVKs produced 27837.95 quintals of quality seed of field crops and 24.86 lakh planting materials of horticultural crops.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers in Bihar:**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of various schemes promoting sustainable agriculture, productivity enhancement, and technology adoption. Access to improved farming techniques, quality seeds, and soil health information.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs, adopt recommended practices, utilize soil health cards, and engage with KVKs for knowledge and resources.
**State Government of Bihar:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and overseeing the various schemes and programs in coordination with the central government.
* **Action Required:** Ensure effective implementation of schemes, monitor progress, provide support to farmers, and collaborate with ICAR and KVKs.
**ICAR and KVKs:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for research, technology dissemination, and capacity building among farmers and extension functionaries.
* **Action Required:** Conduct research, develop and promote appropriate technologies, organize training programs, and facilitate farmer-researcher linkages.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): A scheme implemented to promote sustainable agriculture practices and productivity enhancement across the country including Bihar.
Bihar: The state in India which is the primary focus of agricultural research and related schemes discussed in the parliamentary question.
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK): Extension centers under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), involved in dissemination of agricultural research outcomes to farmers.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): The organization responsible for agricultural research and the establishment of KVKs for disseminating outcomes to farmers.
Purvodaya Scheme: A scheme announced for Eastern India, under which agricultural research and productivity enhancement in Bihar is prioritized.
O.I.H
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1812
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10th February, 2026
Agricultural Research in Bihar
1812. Shri Abhay Kumar Sharma:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
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
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (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 2015-
16 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.
*****