The document discusses agricultural transformation in VDSA villages of Jharkhand, highlighting the predominance of mono-cropping, particularly paddy, and low input use in farming, which hampers productivity. It outlines changes in cropping patterns, increasing attention to pulses, vegetables, and improved rice yield through hybrid seeds, notably in Ranchi district. The findings suggest potential for better crop management and diversification to enhance rural economies, especially by improving rainwater management and introducing horticultural crops.

1. March2015
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Agricultural transformation in VDSA villages in Jharkhand
Abhay Kumar1
, RKP Singh2
, KM Singh1
, RC Bharati1
, Shiv Jee1
and BP Bhatt1
1
ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna; 2
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, India
Introduction
• In Jharkhand state, only 18% of area is cultivated, while 28% area is
under forest and 31% are fallow.
• Mono-cropping mainly paddy still prevalent
• Less developed irrigation system and poor rainwater management
limiting factor
• In recent years, pulses, vegetables and maize are getting attention of
the farmers.
• Use of critical inputs in farming- Seed, fertilizer, irrigation are still at
very low level. Therefore, crop productivity is also low in the region.
Objective
• To examine the changes in cropping pattern in VDSA villages in
Bihar state
• to examine the trend of input-use in farming and crop yield in the
study villages.
Data and methodology
• Survey Area: Dubaliya, Hesapiri villages of Ranchi district and
Dumariya and Durgapur villages of Dumka district of Jharkhand
• Survey year: 2010-11 to 2013-14
• Sampling: Panel survey of 40 households from each village,
comprising 10 from each category viz.- labour, small, medium and
large category.
• Total sample size: 160
Results
Change in Cropping pattern
• Change in cropping pattern visible, but the changes mainly within
food grain crops
• Paddy and Pulses constituted about 90% of gross cropped area,
while wheat is not an important crop
• Maize an important multi-purpose crop in Dumka villages
• Potato and other green vegetable crops preferred in Ranchi district
to cater the demand in city
• Low milk-yielding livestock mostly depend on open grazing, as milk
consumption not preferred
• Area under fodder crop - negligible.
Share of different crops in Gross Cropped Area in VDSA villages
Ranchi district
Paddy
Wheat
Pulses
Maize
Mustard
Potato
Vegetables
Fodder & other
2013/14
2010/11
Dumka district
2013/14
2010/11
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
FerƟlizer-Ranchi FerƟlizer-Dumka SRR-Ranchi (%) SRR-Dumka (%)
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14
FerƟlizer applicaƟon (kg/ha) and eed replacement rate (SRR)s
pfor addy crop in VDSA villages
0
50
100
150
200
HL(Mandays/ha)
Labour use-Human (HL), Machine (ML) and Bullock (BL) in
paddy culƟvaƟon in VDSA villages
0
50
100
150
200
ML/BL(Hours/ha)
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14
HL- Ranchi HL- Dumka ML- Ranchi
BL- Ranchi ML- Dumka BL- Dumka
Distribution of rice area across different yield category, %
Rice- for consumption and making local alcoholic drink,
preferred by local natives
Rice-Ranchi district
<2 t/ha
2- 3 t/ha
3- 4 t/ha
> 4 t/ha
2010/11
2013/14
Rice-Dumka district
2010/11
2013/14
VILLAGE DYNAMICS IN SOUTH ASIA
Funding support:
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Input-use and crop yield
• Fertilizer application in paddy crop significantly higher and growing
in Dumka district
• Availability of quality hybrid paddy seed better in Ranchi villages-
due to vicinity of state capital
• Use of human labour still very high in agriculture in both the
districts, mainly due to availability of family labour
• Use of machine labour still at very low level
• Rice yield improved significantly in Ranchi district due to adoption
of hybrid seed
Conclusions
• Huge opportunity to bring more crop area by rainwater management
• Pulses- crop of hope for rabi fallow
• Hybrid paddy- game-changer for rice growers in Ranchi district
• Popularization of horticultural crops and small ruminants can
improve rural economy
• Low preference for milk and milk products- one of the major
constraints in diversifying the income earning opportunities in
the region.