Published Paper Details:

Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for nearly two-thirds of Bihar's population, with small and marginal farmers constituting more than 95% of operational landholders. Despite significant agricultural potential, farmers in Bihar continue to face numerous challenges, including fragmented landholdings, inadequate irrigation, climate variability, low farm mechanization, and limited access to institutional credit and markets. To address these issues and enhance farmers' income, the Government of India and the Government of Bihar have implemented several farmer-centric schemes since 2018, including the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) and various state agricultural support programmes. These initiatives aim to provide direct income support, subsidized agricultural inputs, irrigation facilities, farm mechanization, crop insurance, quality seeds, and digital services, thereby promoting sustainable agricultural development and improving rural livelihoods. This paper examines the impact of PM-KISAN and major state agricultural schemes on the socio-economic conditions of farmers in Bihar. It evaluates their contribution to agricultural productivity, input use, farm income, technology adoption, climate resilience, and overall agricultural sustainability. The study based on descriptive and analytical approach based on secondary data collected from government reports, Bihar Economic Surveys, publications of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, NITI Aayog, NABARD, research articles, and other authentic sources. The paper concludes that greater convergence among central and state programmes, improved digital governance, expansion of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and enhanced extension services are essential for maximizing the benefits of agricultural support policies in Bihar.