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In the state of Bihar, most of the farmers are marginal with small land holdings or are sharecroppers / tenants; anyway the culture of Bihar is one which is Agriculture. The un-economic size of land-holdings defeats the very purpose of any gainful results through farming. Therefore, there is a crying need to introduce co-operation among these farmers which by sharing the investments required for modern hi-tech agriculture will benefit them through higher productivity, added revenues and better livelihood. Consequently, this will also help in forward integration of agriculture with value-addition through industry and ensure that the benefits of development percolate to the grassroots level covering the poorest among the poor.
Improved performance of the Agriculture Sector is essential to sustain the growing population needs, provide new jobs to villagers and reduce their migration to urban areas. There is also possibility of growth in economy and employment generation in the villages by enhancing a cooperative action on infrastructure development and also create value addition center (packaging, storage and processing) of agriculture commodities but also surrounding agriculture, an offshoots can be created in form of small scale cottage industries. Role model of the project would be also to create a positive approach towards better future, awareness, Education, health and sanitation, information linkage and opportunity of employment and good governance.
The most important missing link in Agriculture is to sustain and enhance the value addition productivity and improving farm management. Lack of on-farm training to the farmers and linkage with the developed market is greatest concern for the farmer's future growth. A major contribution in the 60% loss of the agriculture produce is due to the lack of proper Pre- and Post Harvest Management and also absence of flow of changing technology to the farm gate. Hence, there is an urgent need to upgrade the technological inputs available to the farmers and localize the solutions to meet their needs. In the local village agricultural markets (i.e. Haats) the prices given to the farm produce is not enough for farmers and therefore further investment cannot be made for advanced agricultural inputs. Hence, to avoid these bottlenecks, it is urgently needed to ensure better prices of farmers produce by accessing wider marketing network by diversifying agriculture. There is a need in Bihar to bridge the gap between the Indian mainstream Society and the people in the remote rural areas of Bihar through a planned program for development. Hence there is a need to develop integrated plan of action for reviving Bihar.
The Center for Integrated Development of Bihar can be created by taking the following activities:
§ Create Model Community Infrastructure for Agriculture, Health, Sanitation, Education and enterprising scales.
§ Strengthen Agrarian Base & Self Employment Opportunities by creating social enterprises at village level.
§ Rejuvenate & Promote agri-tourism
§ Public investment in Agriculture, especially in Irrigation as well as in the market yards to create a value addition center and storage capacity of food products.
We envisage the following key steps to achieve a planned development model for replication in the state of Bihar: -
A. Identify Nodal Development Centers
This Center will function as a nerve center for monitoring, assessment, administration & planning of all the activities undertaken at the various Field Centers. A key role of the Nodal Center is also envisaged in not only providing resources and direction to the Field Centers but also ensuring a cohesive approach to the activities.
The activities formulated will be implemented in the identified Field Centers. The selection & scope of coverage in the designated areas will be finalized after a survey-cum-feasibility of the region & firming of the proposed scale of activities to be undertaken.
It is envisaged that the successful implementation of these activities in the Field Centers will have an immense impact on the rural community of the region, which have been susceptible to exploitation by vested interests. In addition, the development of a trained and experienced manpower for these Centers will be a Formidable Asset for deployment at various other locations of the region.
B. Activate Field Center Units
A surveyor feasibility study can be carried out by team of experts at each of the identified locations, for the formalizing the scale of operations (area of coverage) and the specific activities to be undertaken.
It is envisaged that broadly the following activity units should be set up at the Field Centers keeping in mind the need, though some of these may be modified at the time of survey, due to the prevailing local conditions: -
1. Model Integrated Intensive Farming Unit
Coverage of all farm based activities including agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy and related areas through adoption of modern techniques & this unit will do innovative technology. This unit will be equipped to support all the farming efforts in the community through providing quality inputs on seeds, fertilizers, feeds, irrigation, modern equipment, tools, techniques, veterinary medicines, pre & post harvest package of practices, marketing strategy & linkages. Promotion of Organic farming as a successful way of farming will be a key feature of this unit. Community approach in terms of sharing of techniques & tools in all the activities will be promoted.
2. Basic Rural Infrastructure Unit
Provision of basic amenities to provide dignity of life & improvement in quality of living of rural masses through self-help will be undertaken by this unit. The chosen areas of activity will cover irrigation facilities (minor and micro irrigation), clean drinking water, primary health (emergency services, regular healthcare, family planning, nutrition and infant care), sanitation (community services), basic infrastructure education (primary and adult), connectivity (all weather link roads to townships) and communication (basic rural telephony). The focus of providing these amenities will be on common participation and training of people in upkeep and maintenance of these facilities.
3. Information Dissemination Unit
This unit will be a information base providing inputs to the community on cultural & historical heritage (preservation of social practices, local arts, crafts and melas), employment opportunities (village arts & crafts, tools, implements and agro based rural enterprises), environmental awareness (social and agro forestry, use of solar energy and bio-gas) and technology adoption (customizing latest technologies to local conditions). The unit will function as a problem-solving base for local problems linked to information shortfalls and use multi-media for information dissemination.
4. Resource Training Unit
This unit is proposed to function as a resource base for providing training & expertise to the community in diverse areas of agriculture, health, cultural practices, employment skills, education and maintenance of common utilities. Use of workshops conducted by local and outside experts for development of cottage and small scale industry and self help groups for promotion of entrepreneur skills is also envisaged. This unit will also undertake "Train the Trainer" activities in various areas to promote a skilled resource base within the community.
5. Trained Manpower Unit
This unit will focus on promoting the through a well knit and trained manpower resource to undertake the different governmental program.
C. BENCHMARKING ACHIEVEMENTS & REPLICATION
The achievements under the Model Plan will be benchmarked to evaluate the levels of success under each of the designated activity unit and to undertake modifications, if required. It is anticipated that largely the following benefits would accrue directly from the model plan:
§ Economically independent rural community actively contributing to the regional and national economy. Migration of rural youth to cities & towns for employment would be checked.
§ Improvement in living conditions leading to healthier and confident people who are not prone to exploitation.
§ Revival of self-respect and values through universal basic education leading to awareness of individual rights and responsibilities towards community and country.
§ Re-discovery of eroding cultural heritage and strengthening of social bonds through revival of local arts, crafts and events.
§ Promotion of concept of self-help and community welfare leading to active participation of masses in construction and preservation of public amenities.
§ A reservoir of resource persons trained under the model who could be assigned for replication of these activities all across the State at a fraction of the costs and time.
Urgent need is to upgrade the knowledge of farmers about these losses and probably train them to understand modern methods of cultivation practices and post harvest management. In the local village agricultural markets in India the prices given to the farm produce is not enough for farmers and therefore further investment they can not afford in the advance agricultural inputs. Hence, by watching these, it is urgently needed to give better price of farmers produce by opening wider marketing network.
Consequently, forward integration of industry with agriculture would ensure that the benefits of development percolate to the grassroots level even poor among the poorest. Improved performance of the agriculture sector is essential to sustain the growing population, provide new jobs to villagers and accelerate growth and earn foreign exchange through agro-exports.
POSSIBLE USE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN BIHAR
We would like to adapt the following innovative technologies for developmental solutions in the state of Bihar: -
· BIO- TECHNOLOGY
· RAIN - FED FARMING
· HI-TECH INTEGRATED DAIRY
· VALUE ADDITION CENTRES FOR HORTICULTURE CROPS
· Hi - TECH GROWING (Normal/Organic farming)
· GROWING OF EXOTIC PRODUCE
· HERBAL AND MEDICINAL PARK
· FOOD PROCESSING CENTER
· RURAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER
· EFFICIENT WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY
· AGRI-HORTICULTURE TOURISM
· SMALL COTTAGE INDUSTRY
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comments...
I am sure articles like these would add to the sense of optimism ( as pessimism has plagued our state for a long time) and resultant determination of the reader to initiate and help the process of positive change. I feel indebted to the writer and it makes me happy and hopeful as a native Bihari to read such enlightening views.
I shall like to add some process (of change) related issues to the ideas.The process could be Top-down, Bottoms Up
or a mixture of the two. I say this because I am acutely aware of failures of most of the plans suggested/implemented by the government from
Harit-Kranti to Berojgaar Bus Routes Permits to Industrial estates in Patliputra Colony and in Fatuha to name a few.
In my opinion planners and implementers would have to consider
1. Risks ( personal, economic, social and political ) factors related to the suggested ideas,
2. Explore of economic factors related to the proposals both at macro and micro levels,
3. Have public awareness and opinion formation and develop public
'stake-holding' (including different strata of our society) related to developmental projects
4. Have transparent analyses/reporting of uptake and rejection of the ideas/projects
( mentioning the examples of best and worst practice)
News journals are best placed to help develop the transparency process
5. Have Public Interest groups actively involved in the process of change (initiation, monitoring, and modification).
Its is good to see PILs (Public Interest Litigations coming up in our society).
It would be very helpful to have our economists, social scientists, historians and political scientists
comment and participate in the process; and perhaps form something like an 'Idea Bank/Tank' in order to
inform 'resilient' implementation strategies.
Best wishes and kind regards to the contributors of BIHAR TIMES
Dr. Ajay Kapoor
Manchester UK
Ajay.Kapoor@rbh.nhs.uk
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I am thrilled to read this article and congratulate / salute the author for such well integrated, vision towards Bihar. This article can form a baseline guide to identify and screen projects for developmental solution of the state of Bihar. Innovative technologies
suggested here are based on the suitability and potential of Bihar. Additionally I wish to mention that the northern part
of Bihar has large floodplains which are not being used optimally. Management of flood plains, intensive aquaculture, use of ephemeral back waters for aquaculture and development of Ecoparks (aquatic-terrestrial) on the floodplains may be considered for flood affected areas. North Bihar has great potential for aquaculture which can be modernized and commercialized with limited resources. For instance, considering rainfed farming, paddy cum fish culture may maximize gains.
Ram Kumar,
National Taiwan Ocean University
Taiwan,
ramkumar@mail.ntou.edu.tw
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"The article (styled in a essay) is very well composed. Dr. Jha's approach is pragmatic and equally well-founded.
This reader strongly recommends: 1.)The article of Dr. Jha must be translated as earliest in Hindi and must be published in the dozens of Hindi Newspaper in Bihar. 2.)And it should intesify the debates in rural and non-rural Bihar."
Anant Kumar
Writer & Journalist
Member of German Writers Association
www.anant-kumar.de.vu
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