As NDA returns with a bang, farm promises to be keenly watched

As the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comes back to power with a thumping majority in Bihar, how the state fulfils its promises made to the farm sector, will be of interest.

- SANJEEB MUKHERJEE

This would particularly relate to the topping up of PM KISAN instal-ments by %3,000 per annum and ensuring guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, wheat, maize and pulses through procurement at the panchayat level.

Bihar is predominantly an agrarian state dominated by small and marginal landholdings that in 2015-16 constituted around 97 per cent of the total operational landholding of Bihar. Nationally, this stood at 86.1 per cent.

The average size of land holding in Bihar, according to a State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) report, was 0.39 hectares, and for marginal farmers, it was 0.25 hectares in 2015-16. At the all India level, it was 1.08 hectares and 0.38 hectares, respectively.

Clearly, farming in the state is dominated by small holders owning less than one hectare of land. Bihar, according to the latest record, has around 7.5 million PM KISAN beneficiaries.