International Journal of Agricultural

Science and Research (IJASR)

ISSN(P): 2250-0057; ISSN(E): 2321-0087
Vol. 6, Issue 3, Jun 2016, 125-136
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF CHICKPEA IN

BIHAR: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FARMERS
MEERA KUMARI1 & RAVIGOPAL SINGH2
1

Assistant Professor- Cum-Junior Scientist, Department of Agricultural Economics,

Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, India
2

Director Research, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, India

ABSTRACT
To identify the problem and prospect of chickpea cultivation in Bihar this study was an attempt to analyse the
possibility of increase in the area and production of chickpea through intervention of improved varieties along with
management practices and prevailing marketing practices in target districts of Bihar. The main objective was to appraise

productivity (chickpea), constraints in production and different channels for marketing and other socio-economic issues.
For this, a matching sample of 135 farmers from each district were identified and interviewed personally. The average
productivity of improved variety in adopted villages were recorded 9.5 quintal/ha. However for local variety it was 8.5 q/ha
in better condition without using any scientific package and practices, It clearly indicated that traditional variety is still
playing an important role in their cropping pattern as accounted nearly 90-95 per cent of total chickpea area under same.
Only six famers were using improved variety. Major constraints faced by the farmers were moisture stress, high pod borer

Original Article

the existing situation of selected districts/village with respect to use of technologies and its resultant impact on crop

incidence, shortage of labour especially during harvesting and threshing and some of variety found not suitable in flood
affected area. Crop utilization of chickpea indicated that small and marginal farmers hardly had a surplus to sell the
produce into the market. For marketing 80 percent of farmers sold their produce to the village trader because they do not
have proper marketing linkage to sell their produce. It was estimated that each middle men in the supply chain takes at
least 1 to 2 % commissions on their sales. Despite of huge potentiality and the comparative advantage, the production of
chickpea in the state has experienced a major setback, owing to a drastic decline in the area under the crop about 60% till
2011.
KEYWORDS: Chickpea Production, Cropping Pattern, Constraints, Marketing, Bihar

Received: Mar 18, 2016; Accepted: Apr 19, 2016; Published: Apr 20, 2016; Paper Id.: IJASRJUN2016017

INTRODUCTION
Chickpea (Cicer arietinumL.) is an important pulse crop, contributing 20% to the pulse production in the
world. Its share in Indias pulse production is even more pronounced at more than 40%. India is the largest chickpea
producing country, accounting to 67% of the chickpea production in the world (Parthasarathy,et al2010). Chickpea
also helps in fixing atmospheric nitrogen and contributes to the build-up of organic matter in the soil. There are two
types of chickpea desi (with dark colour seed coat and comparatively smaller seeds) and kabuli (with white or
cream colour seed coat and comparatively larger seed). In India, desi varieties account for 80% of production and
Kabuli varieties contribute the remainder. The area under chickpea increased rapidly in the first decade after
independence from 7.57 million ha in 1950-51 to an all-time high of 10.33 million ha in 1959-60. The productivity
also increased from 484 kg/ha in 1950- 51 to 697 kg/ha, and the production touched a high of 7.02 million tons in
1958-59. But during the period 1964-65 to 2008-09, the chickpea area declined by 4.4 million ha in northern Indian
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Meera Kumari & Ravigopal Singh

states (from 5.14 million ha to 0.73 million ha), while it increased by 3.5 2million ha in the central and southern states
(from 2.05 million ha to 5.56 million ha). AICRP (2011). Chickpea lost area to wheat and other crops, which witnessed
rapid growth in productivity in the northern states of India. Chickpea is generally grown in the post rainy season on the
black and other heavy soils that can retain moisture till the crop matures. In the central and northern states, it is sown with
the help of irrigation after the kharif (rainy season) crop is harvested. In peninsular India, it is sown rainfed, benefits from
sporadic winter rains and matures with the help of stored moisture. ICRISAT and its research partners have developed
short duration, high yielding varieties, so the crop escapes from terminal drought, which was a constraining factor with
long duration varieties. These varieties have rapidly become popular in the southern and central states of the country.
The chickpea area reached 9.21 million ha in 2010-11 and production surged to 8.25 million tons, with the
productivity touching an all-time high of 896 kg/ha. The growth in production lags be-hind the increase in demand, causing
an increasing dependence on imports. India spent about Rs 4400 million per year, on an average, between 2005 and 2008
(FAO 2011) for the imports. The desi types of chickpea are imported, while the kabuli types of chickpea are both imported
as well as exported, depending on the price dynamics and production trends. In 2007-08, Indias chickpea exports
exceeded the imports in value, but in all other years preceding and succeeding it, India remained a net importer of
chickpea. The irrigation coverage to chickpea crop increased from about 12.5% in 1950-51 to 33.6% in 2008-09, which
might have also contributed to growth in productivity.
In Bihar Agriculture sector has experienced a considerable growth during the past three decades. The progress has
been spectacular in 1980s when state recorded agriculture growth of 2.50 percentages which outpaced the population
growth (2.35%) during the period which could not be sustained during nineties. In the process of technological
development in Bihar, pulse crops got major setback and its area declined from 1626thousand hectare in 1970-71 to
524.34thousand hectare in the year 2011-12. It produces 519.87 thousand metric tons of pulse (govt. of Bihar 2014). This
is only 4% of pulse production of the country. The percentage area under pulses to gross cropped area has also declined
with an increase in gross irrigated area (Chopra, Kusum 1982). Among pulse crop grown in Bihar Lentil is the only pulse
crop whose cropped area increased by 20,000 hectares. Its production is still greater to all India average (991kg/ha).
Particular reference to chickpea in Bihar, the area of chickpea has declined from 2.45 lakh in 1975-76 to 0.56 lakh hectare
in2010-11although productivity has increased from 550 kg/ha to 1000 kg/ha during the same period, even after 2003, the
chickpea area has been in declining trend due to growing popularity and public policy emphasis on Rice-Wheat system. It
has been noticed that as irrigation facilities developed, chickpea gradually gets marginalized in Bihar and other parts of
Indo-Genetic Plains. In addition to this, there is a huge variability in area and production of chickpea during 2000-2009,
however the productivity during the same period is more stable which indicates that there is a scope to increase production
potential of chickpea in the state if adequate policy measures are taken.(kumari et.al 2015).In this regard it is pertinent to
take into account the 6.4 million acres of rice fallow land in the state to which the chickpea cultivation could be potentially
expanded(Govt. of Bihar). In Bihar there are also some typical land situations like Tal and Diara spread over to
approximately 1.2 million hectare of land which is most suitable for pulse production. In Tal area more than 85% of
farmers were ready to adopt improved technology like improved seed, treatment, fertilizer application etc in production of
pulses .Though they were not using fertilizer and sprinkler irrigation for cultivating the pulse crop.. Hence there is a need
of different approaches and strategies for increasing pulse production in those areas.
In the recent year, it has been increasingly realised that only increased in physical production of crops has no

Impact Factor (JCC): 4.7987

NAAS Rating: 3.53

Production and Marketing of Chickpea in Bihar: Problems and Prospects for the Farmers

127

longer guarantees the smooth development of agriculture at both the farm and national economy levels unless and until it is
linked with efficient system of its marketing .hence study of marketing system needs draw much more attention than
customarily assigned to it. Important markets in India and abroad, as on 31.03.2011, there were 7246 regulated markets in
India comprising of 2433 Principal markets and 4813 Sub market yards. These markets are situated in 35 states / UTs
through which agriculture produce including whole grains of pulses / Dal are sold / bought. All activities are performed in
these as per the guidelines. The, major markets and importing the pulses are 1) Small chickpea: Burma, Tanzania,
Australia, China, UAE,2) Pigeon pea: Burma, China and Tanzania, 3) Blackgram: Burma, Singapore and Thailand; 4)
Moonbean: Burma, Singapore, China and Australia; 5) Green and yellow peas: Canada, Australia, Hungary, Tanzania and
US, 6) Lentil: Netherland, Syria, Canada, Turkey, China and 7) Large Chickpea or Kabuli: Australia, Canada, Turkey, Iran
and Burma. The prominent markets for export of pulses from India are Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and UAE and minor USA,
Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UK, Egypt, Malaysia, Canada, Spain, Italy, Pakistan, Yemen Republic, Algeria and Bahrain.
To identify the problem and opportunity, this paper has been drafted with main aimed at increasing the area and production
of chickpea through intervention of improved varieties along with management practices as well prevailing marketing
practices in target districts of Bihar.
Sampling & Methodology
The study was based on collection of primary as well as secondary data .The target districts for conducting
baseline survey on chickpea cultivation in Bihar was two districts of Bihar i.e: Banka and Bhagalpur in 2011-12 under
collaborative project of TL-2.. In total, a cluster of 3 villages from adopted and 3 villages from control i .e. 6 villages in
each district were identified for the same. Stratified Random Sampling technique based on probability proportion to size
method to farm size was used to conduct the interview. From each of the adopted villages a sample of 30 farmers were
interviewed and from each of the control villages a sample of 15 farmers were interviewed. Thus, a total of 135 from each
district totalling to 270 farmers were interviewed. The secondary data were collected from different published sources of
directorate of economics and statistics, govt. of Bihar, F.A.O Stat. The quantitative data to study the system of marketing
was mainly collected by interviewing 270 growers, 20 traders and 3processors operating in the state. The data on physical
infrastructure in mandis, monthly prices and corresponding arrivals, name and share of the markets (local as well as outside
state), etc has been collected directly from mandis. All major mandis trading in pulses i.e. Bhagalpur , siliguri and Patna
have been covered by the survey for studying the trade channels and value chain mapping in chickpea cultivation.
Analytical Technique: For assessing the trends in area, production and productivity of chickpea in the states and
the study districts of Bhagalpur and Banka, the exponential function of YT = abtut was employed.
Where, YT= area/production/productivity in the years
a = intercept indicating Y in the base period (t = 0), b = Regression coefficient
t

= Time period in years Ut= Disturbance term for the years.

Garretts Ranking Techniques: was used for constraints analysis, in this analysis, rank 1 means most important
problem and rank 10 means least important problem. In the next stage rank assigned to each reason by each individual was
converted into per cent position using the formula: Per cent position = 100 (Rij 0.5) / NJ Where,Rij stands for rank given
for the Ith factor (i= 1, 2.5) by the jth individual (j = 1, 2, n)Nj stands for number of factors ranked by jth individual.
Once the per cent positions were found, scores were determined for each per cent position by referring Garretts table.
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Meera Kumari & Ravigopal Singh

Then, the scores for each problem were summed over the number of respondents who ranked that factor. In this way, total
scores were arrived at for each of the factors and mean scores were calculated by dividing the total score by the number of
respondents who gave ranks. Final overall ranking of the factors was carried out by assigning rank 1, 2, 3 etc., in the
descending order of the mean scores.
Major Findings
Trends and Variability of Chickpea Production in Bihar
Chickpea has shown declined in area in the State during the period 1990 to 2010. This was statistically significant
at 1% level of significance.
Table1: Area, Production and Productivity of Chickpea in Bihar 1990 to 2010
Statistic
Area(000ha) Production(000tons) Productivity (kg/ha)
Mean
1990-2000
130.94
117.41
893.07
2000-2010
70.35
65.81
933.11
1990-2010
100.65
91.61
913.09
CV (Raw Data)
1990-2000
13.44
23.02
15.96
2000-2010
23.46
25.60
7.8
1990-2010
35.06
37.52
12.23
Source: (Directorate of Economics& Statistics, Govt. of Bihar, estimated by authors)
Data pertaining to variability in area, Production and Productivity indicates that during the period 2000 to 2010
there was maximum variability in area and production recorded so far. However during the same period, productivity was
more stable compared to other mentioned period as indicated by having lowest coefficient of variation percentage.
Trends in area, production, and productivity of chickpea in sample districts of Bihar.
Among selected sample district, the variability in area and production was found more in Bhagalpur as indicated
by having higher CV value. However Productivity was found less stable in Banka as indicated by having higher value
Table 2: Area, Production and Productivity in Selected Districts of Bihar (1997 to 2012) and Instability
Measures. (Area in 000 ha and Productivity in kg/ha)) (Area in 000 ha and Productivity in kg/ha)
BHAGALPUR
BANKA
Area
Production Yield
Area
Production
Yield
5042
4416
872
3873
2703
716
2000
3619
3012
823
3008
1836
745
2003
3144
2126
663
3561
2680
745
2006
6162
4619
744
2477
2783
1057
2009
Instability measure Raw data(c.v)
27.46
30.29
13.74 17.10
29.04
20.43
1997-2003
83.63
83.63
23.09
40.27
54.33
31.94
2003-12
57.79
58.35
19.05
30.51
43.38
30.02
1997-2012
0.04
0.04
0.31
0.07
0.09
0.34
1997-2003
0.24
0.10
0.43
0.07
0.08
0.26
2003-12
0.10
0.01
0.10
0.01
0.02
0.13
1997-2012
De-trended data(cv)
0.04
0.04
0.31
0.07
0.09
0.34
1997-2003
0.24
0.10
0.43
0.07
0.08
0.26
2003-12
0.10
0.01
0.10
0.01
0.02
0.13
1997-2012
Source: (Directorate of Economics& Statistics, Govt. of Bihar, estimated by authors)

Impact Factor (JCC): 4.7987

NAAS Rating: 3.53

Production and Marketing of Chickpea in Bihar: Problems and Prospects for the Farmers

129

Since the past few decades, the area under chickpea has been declined but productivity is more stable. In
Bhagalpur, the average area under chickpea in triennium ending 2000was5042 hectare producing 4416 tons with
productivity of 872 kg per hectare. It shown an increasing trend of area and production during the triennium ending 2009
but productivity during the same has been declined to744kg/ha. Chickpea is also one of the major pulse crops in Banka
district with an area of3873ha during 2000 after that it has declined to 2477ha till 2009 triennium ending however average
production has been stagnated over the same period. But productivity level has shown an increasing trend as rises from716
kg/ha to1057kg/ha. This requires the suitable policy to develop the technology of processing, storage and sustainable
production for the livelihood security of people in Bihar.
Table 3: Allocation of Area under Chickpea Cultivation in Sample
Villages of Banka and Bhagalpur Districts
Year

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

Variety
DESLA
PLAIN
DESHLA
RUN
JG-14
KAK-2
RADHA
SUBHARA
VABHAV
DESLA
PLAIN
DESHLA
RUN
JG-14
KAK-2
RADHA
SUBHARA
VABHAV
DESLA
PLAIN
DESHLA
RUN
JG-14
KAK-2
RADHA
SUBHARA
VABHAV

BHAGALPUR
Adopted
Control

BANKA
Adopted
Control

Pooled Sample
Adopted
Control

61.1

21.1

26.4

2.3

87.6

23.4

6.3

0.4

18.4

18.9

24.7

19.3

0.2
1.2
1.4
1.9
8.5

1.3
0.4
3.4
0.0

1.0

54.3
5.1

4.9
1.8

18.0

25.3

2.3

79.6

20.3

0.4

17.1

18.3

22.2

18.7

0.1
1.2
1.4
1.3
7.9

0.8

49.2
4.1
0.1
0.4
0.6
0.9
4.9
60.2

1.4
1.6
4.9
1.9
8.5

5.9
1.8

0.6
0.2
3.2
0.0

4.0
1.8

16.0

23.3

2.1

72.5

18.1

0.2

14.6

15.0

18.8

15.2

3.2
1.6

2.4
2.2
3.4
1.0
4.9
105.2

3.5
1.6

0.3

16.5

2.3
1.8
2.8
0.1
45.0

22.0

0.6
1.4
4.7
1.3
7.9

4.9
1.8

38.5

It can be observed from the table that local varieties comprises of deshla plain(D.P), Roon (D.R) and Radha were
main variety used by the farmers of both the district. After introduction of improved variety, like JG -14, KAK2, & subhra
only 6 farmers of each village were benefitted and sum total of 7ha was allocated for same. Trend analysis indicates that
area under chickpea in sample districts has been decline as a whole, with particular reference to control villages there has
been a tremendous decline in area under local variety has also been observed i.e. from 21.1 16.5to 16.55ha. it may be
inferred that area under chickpea has been declined in both of districts over three year respectively in adopted villages but
as a pooled analysis , area under chickpea has increased due to increased in area under chickpea in Banka.

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Meera Kumari & Ravigopal Singh

Table 4: Composition of Chickpea Varieties in Sample Districts

Variety
Desla
plain
Deshla run
Jg-14
Kak-2
Radha
Subhara
Vabhav
Total
AREA

BHAGALPUR
Adopted Control

BANKA
Adopted Control

Pooled Sample
Adopted
Control

81.7%

96.9%

51.7%

9.7%

68.9%

47.1%

6.9%
0.1%
0.7%
1.0%
1.5%
8.1%

1.2%
0.0%
0.0%
1.8%
0.0%
0.0%

32.5%
5.2%
4.0%
6.3%
0.2%
0.0%

68.2%
0.0%
0.0%
14.7%
7.4%
0.0%

17.9%
2.3%
2.1%
3.3%
1.0%
4.6%

39.5%
0.0%
0.0%
9.2%
4.2%
0.0%

60.2

16.5

45.0

105.2

38.5

22.0

However, data pertaining to composition of different varieties indicated that traditional variety still playing an
important role in their cropping pattern as accounted nearly 90-95 per cent of total chickpea area under same. Among
traditional verities DESLA PLAIN was accounting68%in adopted villages and47.1% in control villages respectively followed
by run and radha. Whereas among improved jg- 14 was accounted highest share i.e2.3%followed by kak-2(2.1%) in the
study area. Deshla plain was found to be the main variety which was generally used by the farmer in majority of the area
(48.6 ha) in adopted village of Bhagalpur followed by (26.46 ha) Banka district. However in control village of Banka, it
was only 2.56 ha/household.
Table 5: Productivity Levels of Chickpea. (Kg/ha) Perceived by the Farmers
BHAGALPUR
Adopted
Control
Rain fed
Good
Bad
Best

496.47
290.77
640.72

435.21
260.73
573.04

Adopted

BANKA
Control

518.28
328.09
710.82

516.23
291.21
665.52

Pooled Sample
Adopted
Control
506.97
309.44
675.82

475.75
275.95
619.28

This clearly indicated that, farmer have lack of knowledge about other varieties, that is why they were using only
Deshla Plain, Deshla Roon and Radha variety in major parts of cultivable area and productivity was estimated 675.82kg/ha
under best condition. However in Bad condition they were reported about 309 and 276kg/ha for pooled sample respectively
for adopted as well as control villages. The average yields of chickpea whether in good and bad, was highest for adopted
villages of Banka followed by Bhagalpur adopted villages and control village of Banka as it has been indicated in the table.
Constraints in Chickpea Production
Varieties wise constraints in chickpea production were identified/ analysed and shown below.
Table 6: Major Constraints among Cultivars (Wt.scale)
CONSTRAINTS
Low yield
High pod borer incidence
High disease incidence
Long duration
Small grain size
Not attractive colour
Poor taste
Low recovery of dal (%)
Impact Factor (JCC): 4.7987

BHAGALPUR
Local
improved
1st
2nd
1st
3rd
5th
4th

BANKA
Local
Improved
1st
2nd
nd
2
1st
rd
3
3rd
4th
th
4

2nd
5th

NAAS Rating: 3.53

Production and Marketing of Chickpea in Bihar: Problems and Prospects for the Farmers

Low market price

Not fit into cropping system
Poor fodder quality
Susceptible to storage pest

Table 6: Contd.,
3th
4th

131

5th
5th

Major constraints among cultivar in Bhagalpur was low yield followed by high pod borer incidence, low market
price having Not attractive in colour and small grain size was ranked 1st, 2nd 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively. For improved
variety, high pod borer incidence was given 1st ranked followed by Not attractive colour, High disease incidence, Not fit
into cropping system and poor taste as 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively. However for Banka, it was ranked as low yield, High
pod borer incidence, High disease incidence, small grain size and Low recovery of dhal percentage as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th
respectively for local variety and High pod borer incidence followed by low yield, High disease incidence, long duration&
not fit into cropping system as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th accordingly for improved variety by the respondents. Thus it may be
conclude that major constraints among cultivar was the pest and disease for improved variety and Low yield was the main
problems for local varieties of chickpea production among selected farmers of both districts in Bihar. Thus it may be
conclude that the major constraints faced in production of pulses as a whole in Bihar were Lack of high yielding varieties.,
Inadequate supply of seeds of improved varieties and slow seed replacement rate Insufficient and unbalanced use of
fertilizers and poor and zero management of salt affected soils, Inadequate supply and poor adoption of quality bio
fertilizers based on efficient strains of Rhizobia and PSB, Poor adoption of IPM and IDM, Labour intensive operation viz;
Harvesting and threshing of crops like pigeon pea, mung bean, urd bean., Post harvest problems- Enormous losses in pulse
grains due to faulty storage practices and processing. Poor and undeveloped infrastructural facilities like covered threshing
floor, road, go down etc. Disruption of drainage system leading to water logging, Lack of awareness of developed
technologies. Fluctuating prices of pulses, Heavy infestation of weeds. Sever crop damage due to attack of disease and
insects.etc.
The Main Emphasis for Increasing Pulse Production

Bringing an additional area under short duration high yielding varieties to fit multiple cropping programmes to be
grown as catch crop.

Developing new cropping systems like companion cropping, mixed cropping or inter cropping for growing pulse
between widely spaced crop such as sugarcane, maize, etc. both under irrigated and rainfed condition.

Evaluation, multiplication and use of improved seeds of various pulses.

Adoption of efficient plant protection measures.

Basal placement of phosphatic fertilizers and treating the seed with Rhizobium culture.

Adoption of improved package and practices.

Granting subsidy on Government loans to the growers and providing improved seed, fertilizer, plant protection
materials on concessional price to the farmers

Evolution of better plant-types of pulses for boosting pulse production.

The varieties thus developed are characterized under1.Non-spreading and erect types.2Thermo-and photo-

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Meera Kumari & Ravigopal Singh

insenitive3.Early maturing4.Responsive to applied inputs with high yield potentials5.Fairly resistant to water
logging, insect pest, and diseases.6.Resistant to drought and frost and of High nutritional qualities.
Marketing: There are inadequate marketing facilities in minor pulse producing states /remote areas in North
Eastern states. To create confidence in farmers cultivating pulses, the Ministry of Agriculture through NAFED ensures to
purchase pulses at MSP under price support scheme in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana,
Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West
Bengal, if prices go down below the MSP level. There is a need to open purchase centres for pulses under PSS in minor
pulse producing states. Prevalent Marketing channels of pulses in Bihar: The channels, which are followed to transfer
grains / pulses from producer to consumers, are called marketing channels. The various prevalent channels followed in this
regard by private markets are as below
Private

Producer Dal Miller Consumer

Producer Village Trader Dal Miller Wholesaler Retailer Consumer,

Producer Dal Miller - Retailer - Consumer,

Producer Wholesaler Dal Miller - Retailer Consumer,

Producer Wholesaler Dal Miller Wholesaler - Retailer consumer,

Producer Wholesaler Retailer Consumer (For whole Greengram), and

Producer Commission Agent Dal Miller Wholesaler Retailer -consumer.

Institutional: Earlier the Institutional Arrangement were also Made as

Producer Procuring Agency- Dal Miller Consumer,

Producer Procuring Agency Dal Miller Wholesaler Retailer -Consumer, and

Producer Procuring Agency Dal Miller Retailer Consumer.

But now there is no regulated markets in Bihar from 2006-07.

Marketing Practices in Study Districts

80 per cent farmers preferred local variety for own consumption. Medium and large farmers: sell about 90 percent
of the produce just after harvest. Out of the marketed surplus, 80- 85 per cent produce traded outside the state mainly to
Siliguri & Kolkata for value addition. Traders import pulses from MP and Maharashtra. Two networks (network for dal
and network for making sattu), were used to find out the producers share, marketing cost and margin at different channel to
reach the produce from producers to ultimate consumers. It was estimated that in value addition the cost incurred was just
double when we compare it with supply chain only and producers share was reduced to half i.e 31 percent and margin
taken by intermediaries was3-4 times more in network two.

Impact Factor (JCC): 4.7987

NAAS Rating: 3.53

Production and Marketing of Chickpea in Bihar: Problems and Prospects for the Farmers

133

Preferences of Market Brokers/Commission Agents

As a part of the PVS survey, brokers who are regularly got involved in marketing chickpea were also asked to
indicate their preferred traits and varieties of the crop. These brokers had a turnover ranging between 2 to3 tons in the
previous year. Some of them were residents of the villages and they procure and dispatch chickpea to wholesalers in local
markets. In Banka district, their preferences largely matched with those of the farmers. But in Bhagalpur district, they
ranked subhra1 and KAK-2 at number 2, while the preferences of the farmers were just the opposite. Brokers ranked desi
at number 3 and JG-14 at number 4, leaving radha at the last place. But farmers ranked deshi at number 1andkak-2 at
number2. Thus, the preferences of brokers were influenced more by market traits, while the preferences of the farmers
were influenced both by market and crop growth traits. This is generally due to large number of intermediaries who take
their cut of the value of the pulses. It is estimated that each middle men in the supply chain takes at least 1 to 2 %
commissions on their sales. There is a good scope for pulses industry also thats why special attention in these areas needs
to explore the technology for optimisation of pulse production. Because, for diversification chickpea is one of the reliable
option with new technology interventions (improved seed, package and practise) to regain some area in the state as whole
and districts in particular.
Crop Utilization of Main Product and by-Products per House-Hold (in kg)
In sample districts traditional varieties of chickpea were mainly grown for consumption purpose. In Bhagalpur
districts hardly a few farmers having large holding size were used to sell the average quantity of 2-5 quintal/sample in the
market. However data parting to improved variety was mainly used for seed or sold in market was found to be highest i.e
460 kg/sample. However for control village, there was negative surplus of produced for deshla plain variety followed by no
surplus for radha and deshla roon had been observed. For Banka similar utilization pattern was observed in case of local
variety and for improved variety major proportion for produced has been used as seed for own purpose. It may be conclude
that crop utilization of main product and by products of traditionally grown variety hardly sold in market by the farmers. It
was mainly used for consumption purpose in both of district. (Field survey-2011-12) Reddy A, 2009found similar results.
Problem and Prospect for Farmers
All the farmers were reported from both of district that they have best quality of land for chickpea cultivation only
the problem is proper facility not available for sprinklers irrigation, lack of knowledge about proper method of cultivation,
inter culturing, non-availability of quality seed at time etc. One of the important difference emerged between two selected
districts were the difference in showing time. In flood prone area there was early sowing of pulse crop e.g. Last October to
1st week of November however in some villages of Banka district eg. Simaria, padampur, and Babura, usually the date of
sowing was after harvesting of rice. I.e. up to 10 December where farmers show interest towards sowing late variety of
short duration maturity, wind resistance, disease free variety traits are the most preferred trait of the variety. They usually
preferred Jg14, KAK2 and subhra to continue cultivation in next crop season. Data pertaining to yield response of all
variety provided VS Deshla indicated that hybrid variety provided were found superior to that of Deshla,but one of the
major set back about variety was that it has not been replaced for the last 20 to 25 years in all selected villages under study.
Despite of the fact that on an average yield of adopted farmer in Bhagalpur district was about 7.5 quintal/ha and in Banka it
was about 8 quintal/ha Still 90% farmers of control as well as adopted village did not like to quit the variety because of
high risk, instable yield, wilt problem and due to insect and disease infestation of hybrid variety. Farmers reported that post
harvest loss in KAK2 due to rat attack was more comparison to another variety. After estimation of comparative advantage
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Meera Kumari & Ravigopal Singh

among different crop grown, risk as well as cost associated with them about 90% of the farmer ranks 2nd i.e. after lentil
among all pulses vs cereal crop if irrigation facility will be available, they usually preferred to cultivate maize and wheat,
because of i) social problem ii) weather risk iii) quality seed not available at time iv) lack of knowledge about agronomical
practices v) instability in price vi) less marketable and marketed (price risk) surplus compare to lentil. Vii) Instable yield
(due to wilt & pod borer), inadequate supply and poor adoption of quality bio fertilizers based on efficient strains of
Rhizobia and PSB.etc

CONCLUSIONS
The per capita income in the adopted village is more than that of control village in which 54% of income derived
from the crop enterprises only. For Rabi pulse crops, MSP is far less than for Kharif pulse crops (Rs 2100/q for chickpea
and Rs 2250/q for lentil vs. Rs 3200/q for pigeon pea, Rs 3500 for Moong and Urad). This indicates the competitiveness of
Rabi pulse crops for further expanding area, keeping their low cost of production. It is also to be noted that the cost of
production is less in Bihar for chickpea than the MSP, which indicates the cost competitiveness of Bihar in pulses
production. This indicates the scope for expanding area under pulses in Bihar. Since Bihar has comparative advantage in
Chickpea production, this has to be exploited to the best of its advantage.
Strategy for Pulses Improvement

Large rice fallow area can be brought under urd, Moong and other pulses

Popularization of high yielding varieties supported by strong seed programme

Promotion of seed treatment and use of bio fertilizer.

Improvement in farm drainage to mitigate problem of water logging

Tal area promoted as efficient pulses cultivation of gram and lentil as sole crop as well as inter crop with wheat.

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NAAS Rating: 3.53

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