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Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour
Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour established on 5th August, 2010 is a basic and strategic institution supporting more than 500 researchers and educationist towards imparting education at graduate and post graduate level, conducting basic, strategic, applied and adaptive research activities, ensuring effective transfer of technologies and capacity building of farmers and extension personnel. The university has 6 colleges (5 Agriculture and 1 Horticulture) and 12 research stations spread in 3 agro-ecological zones of Bihar. The University also has 21 KVKS established in 20 of the 25 districts falling under the jurisdiction of the University. The degree programmes of the university and its colleges have been accredited by ICAR in 2015-16. The university is also an ISO 9000:2008 certified organisation with International standard operating protocols for maintaining highest standards in teaching, research, extension and training.VisionThe Bihar Agricultural University was established with the objective of improving quality of life of people of state especially famers constituting more than two third of the population. Having set ultimate goal of benefitting society at large, the university intends to achieve it by imparting word-class need based agricultural education, research, extension and public service.
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ThesisItem Open Access Study the Challenges and Opportunities of Agricultural Development in a Village: A Case Study(Department of Extension Education, BAU, Sabour, 2019-05-25) Kumar, Neeraj; Singh, S. R.India live in villages and the later continue to be the sole basic units of administration in the country since time immemorial. However, quite ironically, the ‘village’ is often associated with ‘backwardness’, tradition’ or ‘conservative attitude’. Bihar is a state blessed with fertile lands, diverse climatic situations and large human as well as natural agricultural resources. But it is also a state which faces the persistent problems like fragmented land holdings, poor farm infrastructure, poor access to extension services and high population density and resultant poverty. The low average yields of most commodities, the huge gaps between the demonstrated and generally realized yields, the low farmers’ income and widespread rural poverty despite the blessed richness of the natural resources needs a holistic system based approach to simultaneously enhance productivity, profitability, equity and environmental sustainability through synergistically integrating crops including horticultural and other cash crops, livestock, fisheries, agro forestry, watershed-based soil and water management, social capital formation, agro-processing and marketing in an end-to end mode. In order to understand as to how to address the constraints and problems in agriculture to lead to overall development, an in-depth study of one village needed to be undertaken and on the basis of the database, a development programme needed to be undertaken. Only such an experience of working in a village could provide an insight for future village development programmes on large scale. Keeping this in aim in view, this research study entitled “Study the Challenges and Opportunities of Agricultural Development in a Village: A Case Study” was conceptualized with the following specific objectives: 1 To study the situational profile of the farmers and the village. 2 To assess the livelihood diversification pattern among the farmers. 3 To identify the opportunities of agricultural development in the selected Village. 4 To determine the challenges and constraints of the agricultural development in the selected village. Twin villages, Birnaudha and Barhari of Goradih block in Bhagalpur district of Bihar state which were already selected under FARMER FIRST Programme of ICAR by Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour (BAU, Sabour) were selected purposively for this investigation. This study aimed to build valuable data base for this all-inclusive development programme so that planning and execution of the programme could have a data support and could provide a benchmark for evaluation of achievements of the efforts made under the programme. But total households in these villages numbered more than 1,300. Considering the limitation of a Student’s study with respect to time and resources, only 400 farm families were randomly selected for this investigation. The variables of the study were selected through a lot of discussion with the scientists working in the Farmer First Project, progressive farmers of the villages and other scientists of the University who enjoined wide field experience. These variables were operationally defined and measures were decided objectively and scientifically. For measuring some variables like Socio-economic status, gender participation and marketing behavior of the respondents, well established scales were used and for other variables, schedules were developed. The entire schedule was pre-tested for its reliability and validity. The data collected with the help of schedule was subjected to suitable statistical analysis and results were discussed in the light of literature available in the subject area of the study. The majority of the respondents (68.75%) were in the age of 36-50 years, belonged to BC II Category (65.0 %), about 47.0 per cent respondents possessed high school and above qualification, while 14.25 per cent were illiterate. Further, the majority of them (86.25%) had nuclear families and family size of 57.50 percent was medium. About 70.00 percent respondents were marginal farmers, 45.0 percent possessed Pucca houses 35.0 percent had mixed type of houses. Agriculture was the sole occupation of 32.50 percent respondents only. There were 28.75 percent respondents doing the work of labour along with farming. About half of the respondents (52.75%) had an annual income in the range of Rs. 50.001 to 75,000 and income above Rs. 1.0 lakh was of 7.25 percent respondents only. About 54.25 percent had medium level of material possession followed by low (27.25%) and high level (18.50%). Under the above background, the majority of respondents (75.0%) had received some training in agriculture, from one day to more than 10-days duration. But still 53.75 percent respondents had medium level of knowledge followed by 36.25 percent having low level of knowledge of important farm technologies. So, large adoption gap (67.0%) exists with respect to improved technology of commonly cultivated crops. Component-wise, maximum gap was found with respect to Plant protection measures (91.0%). It was followed by seed treatment (90.0%). The adoption gaps were also very large with respect to improved varieties and seed materials (75.0%), intercultural operation (70.0%), water management (66.0%), fertilizer management (63.0%) and sowing methods and time of planting (51.0%). Out of six personalized sources of information, neighbours were used regularly by maximum number of respondents (44.50%) followed by relatives (41.0%). Among mass contact sources, Kisan Diary was most regularly used source of technical information (45.0%), other sources played marginal role. The majority of the growers (61.12 %) sold their produce immediately after the harvest. The majority of the growers (88.88%) used Tempo/Jeep for transportation of their agricultural produce to the market. Livelihood diversification was found with 48.50 percent respondents at medium level and 27.25 percent at high level. The Index Value of the financial capitals was highest (62.14) whereas of Human capitals was the lowest (48.92). The associations of Extension contact and mass media contacts with all the five livelihood capitals and the overall security were positive and highly significant. The fertile soil for cultivation was perceived by the respondents to be the most important factor for agricultural development. Major crops grown in this villages are rice, wheat, maize, potato & other vegetables. However, the agricultural sector in the village is plagued with numerous, and well known, constraints and problems. The present study discusses the issues plaguing the agricultural sector in the village, Bihar and talks about the possible opportunities interventions to make the best use of available resources adopting a multi-pronged strategy of development. It also talks about the village specific problems and suggests ways and means to tackle them.ThesisItem Open Access Farmers’ perception towards climate change and Adaptation in Bihar: A gender perspective(Department of Extension Education, BAU, Sabour, 2018-07-25) Pandey, Neha; Singh, S. R.The present study was an attempt to understand the perception of farmers about climate change and document the adaptation strategies to climate change in Bihar. The constraints faced by the farmers in adaptation were also examined. A comparable vulnerability index of both men and women farmers was calculated. This investigation was carried out in four purposively selected districts of Bihar state. This investigation was carried out in four purposively selected districts of Bihar state .A total of 240 respondents, 120 being male and 120 being female were selected as the sample size. The study was conducted in 8 villages selected both purposively and randomly. A multi stage sampling design was adopted to select the sample size. The major findings of the study revealed that Majority (50.00 per cent) of the men farmers and 45.83 per cent of the women farmers were of the middle age group. Majority of the women farmers and 30.00 per cent of the men farmers were illiterate. Majority of the men and women farmers were of OBC category. Majority (60.00 per cent and 76.67 per cent) of the men and women farmers were of the joint family type. Majority of the respondents were having family size greater than 5 members. Majority of the men and women respondents were having medium farming experience. About social participation, very few respondents were member of milk federation, school and few women were member of self help group in their village. Majority (70.83 per cent) of the farmers were marginal land holders while 16.67 per cent of the farmers were small land holders, and only 6.67 per cent of the farmers were big land holders. Majority of the men and women farmers were of medium annual income. Only 18.33 per cent of men farmers and 37.50 per cent of the women farmers had acquisition of credit. Majority (70.80 per cent and 80.00 per cent) of the men and women farmers were having one to four of the farm implements. Majority of the farmers had to face the problem of market availability which was around 3 to 5 km distance away from their villages. Majority (60.00 percent and 40.83 per cent) of the women and men farmers had medium level of contact with the extension person. Majority (56.67 per cent and 51.67 per cent) of the men and women farmers had medium participation in extension activities. Majority of the respondents (54.17 per cent and 44.17 per cent) had medium extent of use of mass media. Access to weather forecast was available only to 49.17 per cent and 22.50 per cent of the men and women farmers respectively. Majority of the men and women farmers had medium level of risk orientation, innovativeness and decision making pattern. While the men farmers were more aware of the indicator that climate is getting warmer day by day, the women farmers were more aware of the increase in pollution level of the environment. Majority of the men respondents perceived that in monsoon season onset of monsoon has been delayed, end of monsoon has been early, frequency of dry spell has increased, uneven distribution of rainfall has increased and uncertainty of rainfall has increased. In winter season, onset of winter season has been delayed; duration of winter season has decreased and no of days of severe cold has decreased. In summer season minimum and maximum temperature has increased, onset of summer season was early and end of summer season was delayed, month with intense hot days was increased and rainfall in summer season was also increased. For the same season wise climate change indicators, the women farmers perceived differently as for them, the frequency of dry spell was unchanged; duration of monsoon season was decreased. In winter season intensity of cold wave was increased, no of days of severe cold was increased and duration of winter season was decreased. In summer season end of summer season was delayed, number of intense hot days has increased and intensity of heat wave has increased. To avoid the climate change extremities, the farmers adopted certain adaptation strategies which was further divided into short term and long term adaptation strategies. Early sowing, crop insurance, mixed cropping, increased seed rate, flood tolerant variety, strengthening of bunds, drought tolerant variety, early maturing variety, low water requirement crops, deep rooted crops, increased irrigation, application of potash and urea, thinning, use of farm implements and pest resistant variety are some of the short duration strategies. Crop diversification, tubewell, ponds, renovation of ponds and wells, polyhouse, checkdam, sprinkler irrigation, INM in crops, backyard poultry and duck farming are some of the long term strategies adopted mainly by the men farmers. The men and women farmers were exposed to same type of climate extremities but it was the coping mechanism which makes the difference in vulnerabilities faced by both the social groups. To overcome these problems, climate change and related issues should be seen from a gender lens and the policy implications must be more gender just.ThesisItem Open Access Techno-economic Analysis of Lentil Production in Mokama Tal of Bihar State(Department of Extension Education, BAU, Sabour, 2017-08) Kumar, Randhir; Panda, Chandan KumarPulses are important sources of protein, high in fiber content and provide ample quantity of vitamins and minerals. Keeping in view large benefits of pulses for human health, the United Nations had proclaimed 2016 as the International Year of Pulses. Bihar is one of the important states in India for pulse production. Amongst the different pulses, lentil is one of the important pulse crops for Bihar. Demand of lentil in Bihar is also high. So, it becomes imperative to study technology and economic aspects of lentil cultivation/production to match the requirement of lentil in India in general and Bihar in particular. There are some socio-economic issues related researches in pulses cultivation in Bihar, however, there are very limited study specifically for lentil cultivation in aforesaid aspect. Mokama Tal area is famous in India for its pulses cultivation. Thus, keeping all this in mind, this research work was coined with the objectives of i)to study the socio-economic profile of selected lentil growers in Mokama Tal; ii)to study the technological gap in lentil production in study area; iii)to identify the factors responsible for changing trend of lentil cultivation area; iv)to estimate the costs and returns of lentil cultivation; and v) to assess the constraints in lentil cultivation. For the present study 120 respondents were selected randomly from Mokama Tal area. From the study it was noted that maximum number of respondents (60.00%) were middle age group, most of them were male and 45.83% respondents belonged to general category. Most of the famers lived in joint family. It was also noted 70.82 % respondents had more than 10 years of farming experiences and 37.50% of them were big farmers. Major sources of information to the farmers were radio, kisan salahkaar, progressive farmers, and kisan diary. Major knowledge gap was noted in case of fertilizer management, land preparation and weed management. It was also noted that area under lentil cultivation is gradually increasing because of good stand of lentil, better response to DAP fertilizers, good market chain and stealing of standing lentil crop is less as compare to other pulses. The most important perceived abioticconstraints in lentil cultivation were soil hardiness after seed sowing and soil cracking. Short sowing period, on availability of credits in time, lack of knowledge on seed treatment, fluctuating prices of lentil,increase in cost of seed, timely availability of labour were some other important constraints as perceived by respondents.ThesisItem Open Access Factors Affecting Development of Agrientrepreneurship in Bhagalpur District of Bihar(Department of Extension Education, BAU, Sabour, 2016-08) Kumar, Tarun; Singh, S. R.The present study entitled “Factors Affecting Development of Agri-entrepreneurship in Bhagalpur District of Bihar” focused on factors responsible for development of agri-entrepreneurship. For this study Bhagalpur District of Bihar state was purposively selected. The list of agri-entrepreneur from five agri-based enterprise like dairy, mushroom grower, poultry, nursery grower, beekeeping were collected from the different sources like wise Krishi vigyan Kendra, line departments of agriculture, agriculture college, The Bihar State Milk Co-Operative Federation Ltd, Agricultural Technology Management Agency, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. From this list of agri-entrepreneurs, twenty respondents were selected randomly from each agri-based enterprise; hence the sample size was 100. Analysis of demographic profile of respondents indicated that majority of the respondent were middle age group, general category, having intermediate level of education, more than four members in family size, marginal land holding, annual income up to 1 lacs, low level of self confidence, high level of innovativeness, medium level of achievement motivation and low level of institutional support. It was noted that maximum respondents have their own enterprises and most of them received training. It was also noted maximum entrepreneurial had less than five years of entrepreneurial experience. Respondents also have high level of planning orientation, production orientation and medium level of marketing orientation. It was noted that entrepreneurial decision making of the respondents was positively and significantly correlated with the independent variable training received, entrepreneurial experience, plannining orientation, technical and managerial constraints. Annual income of respondents was positively and significantly correlated with the variable entrepreneurial experience and land holding. Achievement motivation is the pivotal of any successful enterprise establishment and continuation and it was interesting to note that loan received is positively and significantly correlated with the dependent variable i.e., achievement motivation of the entrepreneurs. Establishment of large number of Agricultural entrepreneurships is a need of Bihar State. However, the rate of establishment and success is limited due to a large number of constraints. In order make an in-depth enquiry in to this issue, the present study was planned on the problem entitled, “Factors Affecting Development of Agri-entrepreneurship in Bhagalpur District of Bihar”. Major constraints faced by the nursery growers were lack of marketing facility, lack of skilled labour, lack of reasonable price to the product, lack of marketing knowledge and lack of training facility. The mushroom growers reported that lack of marketing facility; storage technique and facility, lack of quality spawn and non availability of skilled persons were the main constraints. The major constraints observed among the beekeepers were lack of marketing availability, obstacle at the time of migration of bee boxes from one place to another, lack of reasonable rate of honey, lack of insurance facility and lack of availability of the bee boxes. The poultry farmers reported that lack of marketing facility was the most important challenge for them. Lack of knowledge, lack of government support, lack of feed as reasonable price, lack of knowledge about important diseases were other constraints faced by the poultry growers. Major obstacles observed in dairy entrepreneurship were lack of knowledge for breed selection, lack of technical information, unreasonably low rate of milk given by the Dairy Cooperatives, high labour cost, no governmental support for financial assistance, no insurance facility provided by any agency, vaccination problem, unavailability of veterinary doctor for caring health of the animals and lack of bank loan. Further, the majority of the respondents had high level of planning orientation (81.0%), high level of production orientation (69.0%), but medium level of marketing orientation (45.0%). This study is possibly the first attempt to peep in to the challenges of agriculture based entrepreneurs of Bihar State and as such the findings of this study are likely to lead to several political, administrative and strategic implications in future.
