Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
4.1 INTRODUCTION
The Eastern region of India occupies about 28% of the National geograph-
ical area and inhabited by about 35% of total population, spread over the
states of Eastern UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal,
Assam, and plains of North Eastern States. The region is having about
1.24 times population density to that of national average.
The Eastern region can be divided into the following three distinct geo-
graphical entities:
1. Plains of Eastern UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam,
2. Hilly and Plateau regions of Eastern UP, Jharkhand, West Bengal,
Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Assam.
3. Coastal plains of West Bengal and Orissa.
The climate of the eastern region is tropical, hot and humid except in
hilly areas with high rainfall. The eastern plains are endowed with rich
basic natural resources viz., the most fertile land and abundance of water.
The average annual rainfall in this region varies from 1008 mm to 3126
mm. The mean annual rainfall over the geographical domain of eastern
UP, Bihar plateau, Bihar plains, Orissa, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and
Gangetic West Bengal is about 1008 mm, 1373 mm, 1203 mm, 1482 mm,
3126 mm and 1425 mm, respectively. Even though the region has rich
rain, surface and ground water resources, they are grossly underutilized,
with the result, large proportion of the cultivated area does not receive
any irrigation water, and the farmers depend on the vagaries of the mon-
soon for crop production. As per available information only 43% of the
net cultivated area in Bihar, 26% in Orissa, 22% in West Bengal and 9%
in Jharkhand were irrigated as compared to 95% area irrigated in Punjab.
Owing to poor utilization of water resources, the cropping intensity in
the region is low, consequently, large tracts of cultivable land during rabi
season, remain fallow in spite of the fact that crops in rabi season is rela-
tively disease free and receive plenty of sunshine. Since a sizeable part
of the cultivated area in eastern region do not have provision for assured
irrigation, even short spell drought adversely affects the stability of agri-
cultural production, thereby resulting in low productivity. Consequently,
agriculture & horticulture development is much below its potential. As a
result, the employment in agriculture sector is limited and a large propor-
tion of the population still remains below the poverty line and suffers from
 
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