Business Analyst Journal

The lack of sustained growth in agricultural output and deepening of paddy-wheat cultivation cycle over many decades have given impetus to policy prescription towards crop diversification in Bihar. The recent rise in area under fruits and vegetables as well as sugarcane has encouraged those who are observing the state's prospects closely. This essay asks for abundant caution while acknowledging the need and benefits of crop diversification. It explores the colonial agrarian history of Bihar to find similar trends towards crop diversification that did not bring any improvement in the economic conditions of the cultivators involved. The past pattern suggests that the nature of land, labour, credit and produce market was such that it exploited Bihar peasantry to the benefits of those who controlled these crucial inputs as well as channels of international trade. This has important lessons for the policy makers when the path of crop diversification is taken. If the government is serious about increasing crop diversity to boost agricultural growth and incomes of cultivators, then the choice of the cultivators has to be tilted by institutional means.