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Bihar Govt

State Transformation Cell

Department of Planning and Development
Government of Bihar

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Rising global populations and increasing affluence have driven significant improvements in agricultural productivity. At the international level agriculture continues to be a vital economic pillar—engaging approximately 1.3 billion people (16% of the world’s population) and contributing nearly 24% to global output.

In India, agriculture remains a cornerstone of the economy, providing livelihood support to about 46.1% of the population and contributing around 16% to the national GDP (at current prices). Its role in ensuring food security, employment generation, and rural development makes it indispensable for inclusive and sustainable growth.

In the state of Bihar, agriculture holds even greater significance. Agriculture and allied sectors—including agriculture, animal husbandry, environment and forests, water, and irrigation—are fundamental to Bihar's economy and rural livelihoods. The state’s fertile alluvial soils and abundant water resources support diverse cropping patterns such as rice, wheat, maize, pulses, and sugarcane. The sector acts as the most important source of economic opportunity, with nearly 77% of the workforce engaged in agricultural activities. Agriculture and allied sectors contribute approximately 24.84% of the State Domestic Product, making it the single largest private-sector occupation in the state. Agriculture in Bihar serves as a catalyst for poverty reduction, livelihood enhancement, and the creation of new agribusiness avenues. Its contributions—nearly 20% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) over the past five years—align strongly with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 With 88% of Bihar’s population residing in rural areas, agriculture and allied sectors remain the primary sources of income and socio-economic stability.

Recognizing the sector’s importance, the Government of Bihar has formulated and implemented three Agricultural Road Maps over the past 16 years, demonstrating its continued commitment to agricultural transformation. As a result, the sector has witnessed robust growth, achieving a 5.2% average annual growth rate (derived from the average annual growth rate during the last six years) between 2018–19 and 2023–24.

Building on the achievements of the three earlier Krishi Roadmaps, the Fourth Krishi Roadmap aims to accelerate agricultural transformation in Bihar through a comprehensive, inclusive, and future-ready strategy. It focuses on strengthening food systems, enhancing farmer prosperity, and ensuring environmental sustainability, with a core objective of reinforcing food and national security by improving the productivity and resilience of major crops. The roadmap places strong emphasis on inclusive agricultural development by promoting the participation of non-raiyat and women farmers alongside raiyat farmers, expanding their access to resources, opportunities, and institutional support. Key interventions include promoting sustainable development through environmentally responsible practices, efficient resource management, and climate-resilient agriculture, and advancing departmental convergence to ensure coordinated implementation across agriculture-related departments. It supports the formation of farmer groups to operationalise the “small farmers–big farming” concept, enabling collective access to technology, inputs, and markets. The roadmap further promotes the integration of modern technologies such as improved machinery, digital tools, and scientific methods to enhance productivity and reduce inefficiencies, and strengthens post-harvest management to reduce damage to produce and preserve value. It introduces region-specific strategies for Tal, Diara, and Chaur areas, and supports integrated development of agriculture with horticulture, animal husbandry, and fisheries, while preparing farmers for climate change.

Dr. Devesh Kumar

Sector Expert – Agriculture & Allied Sectors

Dr. Devesh Kumar is a distinguished development professional with over 15 years of specialized experience in Rural Enterprise Development, Agriculture, and Allied Sectors. Throughout his career, he has earned recognition for designing, implementing, and scaling innovative livelihood and enterprise models that strengthen rural economies, promote financial inclusion, and expand opportunities for marginalized communities. His professional journey reflects a unique combination of grassroots engagement, strategic planning, and policy-level leadership.

Currently, Dr. Kumar serves as Sector Expert (Agriculture & Allied Sectors) in the State Transformation Cell, NITI Aayog, where he provides strategic and technical guidance to strengthen agricultural systems, foster enterprise development, and support state-level economic transformation. His responsibilities span project planning, product development, Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) ecosystem strengthening, trade and market facilitation, value-chain development, and agribusiness innovation. He has played an important role in conceptualizing and operationalizing regional market platforms such as SARAS, enhancing rural producers’ visibility and access to wider markets.

Dr. Kumar possesses deep expertise in research, evidence-based policy formulation, and the development of innovative livelihood solutions. His experience includes conducting detailed field studies, designing training modules, and developing capacity-building programs for institutions engaged in agro-processing, export-import facilitation, and enterprise promotion. With strong analytical skills, he contributes to strategies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG localisation at state and district levels. His ability to engage meaningfully with diverse stakeholders—farmers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community institutions—enriches his approach to collaborative solution-building.

He is highly proficient in policy development and implementation, mass awareness campaign design, innovation management, brand management, enterprise design thinking, and the emerging application of regenerative AI in rural development systems. These competencies position him as a multidisciplinary leader capable of driving transformative change across rural landscapes.

Prior to his current role, Dr. Kumar served as the State Nodal Officer for several flagship Government of India schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), the 10,000 FPO Scheme, and Saras Mela. During this period, he provided leadership in strengthening micro-enterprise ecosystems, developing agri-based processing models under the Mukhyamantri Sukshma evam Laghu Udyog Yojna, and facilitating robust market linkages for rural producers. His initiatives significantly enhanced entrepreneurial capacity at the grassroots and enabled sustainable forward and backward linkages for small and marginal producers.

Dr. Kumar has also led interventions supported by the World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other development organizations, particularly in value-chain strengthening, cluster development, FPO promotion across diverse commodities, market interventions, and financial inclusion. His contributions include nurturing Farmer Producer Companies, designing cluster-based enterprise development models, and supporting grassroots innovations in rural entrepreneurship. His work further encompasses rural retail, livelihood policy formulation, and developing scalable models for local economic growth.

Through his deep sectoral expertise, research-driven approach, and passion for rural transformation, Dr. Kumar continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s development landscape and enabling sustainable, equitable growth for rural communities.

Sub-Sector Agriculture Animal husbandry, dairy development, and fisheries Co-Operative Environment & Forest Food Consumer Protection Minor Water Resources Department Sugarcane Water Resource