The Scale of scientific farming in Bihar and challenges. A chat with Awadh Kishor Roy.

Awadh Kishor Roy, a farmer from Muzaffarpur, Bihar talks about his scientific farming and its challenges. Politicalpages correspondent tried to judge the situation of farmers in Bihar with large land banks to set the upper bar in Bihar's agricultural landscape.

29th June-2024.

Bihar agri terrain through the eyes of a farmer.

Who is Awadh Kishor Roy

Awadh Kishor Roy is a 56 year old well to do farmer from Muzaffarpur, Bihar and owns a average land bank which lands him in the category of a big farmer. He belongs from the dominant Bhumihar caste with a strong social footing in his native village as well as in the home town.

Politicalpages, caught up with him to study his farming techniques, the market mechanism he uses to sell his goods and the challenges he faces. Through this interaction, Politicalpages tries to judge the upper limit of the agricultural practices in the state of Bihar.

Full extract of the interaction

PP-What is your land holding and major and minor crops?

Awadh Kishor Roy- I hold about 20 acres of farm land in Govindpur Chapra in the block Bandra in the Muzaffarpur district.

Major crops that i grow includes Wheat, Paddy & Maize and i also grow a array of minor crops which includes Pulses, Mustard, Mango, Lichee, Potato depending upon the climate and market opportunity.

My major objective always is to maximize the output through various mechanical and scientific techniques by keeping a sharp eye over the market sentiments, prevailing labor situation and climatic factors.

Since the irrigation system in the state remains questionable, i rely on the ground water to fulfill my farming needs.

PP-What type of fertilizers you use for your farming?

Awadh Kishor Roy- While i firmly believe that fertilizers are not to be used in farming and entire matter should be organic, but practical demands led by various issue do led us to use the same.

But despite that i keep a strict monitoring of the use of Fertilizers, Pesticides and Herbicides in my farm and strictly limit their use as per permissible ranges. 

Normally, I use DAP, MOP and Neem coated Urea as fertilizers. For Pesticides and Herbicides we use the following-

Wheat - 2 4D (herbicide) 500ml/acre Emamectin benzoate 5% sg 250g/acre (pesticides)
Maize - (herbicide) atrazine 50%wp 500g/acre (pesticide) Emamectin benzoate 5%sg 250g/acre
Paddy - (herbicide) pyrazosulfuron Ethyl 70%WDG 12g/acre (pesticide)chlorantraniliprole18.5%SC 60ml/acre

PP-What type of State and Central government benefit you get?

Awadh Kishor Roy- Iam happy that Bihar and Modi led central Government has come up with many welfare schemes. I normally enjoy the benefits from the following welfare schemes. Though iam lucky to feel self sufficient in financial matters, but i do thank the state and central governments for these schemes which are of immense help to smaller farmers.

-PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana,
-Kisan Credit Card Scheme,
-Krishi Yantra Subsidy Yojana,
-Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana


PP-What type of equipment you use for farming?

Awadh Kishor Roy- Iam fully in favor of mechanized farming as the input to output ration remains in our favor. I thank god that iam able to use mechanized farming in Bihar which is famous for labor intensive farming practices. We use the following mechanical instruments.

Tractor,Reaper, Cultivator, Rotavator, Power, Trailer, Thresher, Sprayer.

I personally feel that if you have the desired resources then you must go for highly mechanized farming, though the trend in Bihar is quite lagging with respect to states like Punjab and Haryana even for the big farmers here. But i must say that the trend has changed a lot in last five years.

PP-Are you happy with the progress you made so far?

Awadh Kishor Roy- I am a self content man with limited needs. What ever i needed to support my family in the past and present, i took out of my agricultural practices.

I know that in farming, stakes are high due to the volatility associated with the profession. But i am proud that till now i have handled it with care.

PP-What are your future plans? Tell us about your immediate family.

Awadh Kishor Roy-I do not have any specific plans. As i told you that i am a self content man, so i do not strive for more and more. I have a immediate family of my wife and three children, one daughter and two sons.

Earning from various agricultural practices like farming and dairy is enough for my family. One of my son assists me in my farming. He has good knowledge in fertilizers and pesticides. My another son is a engineer and is settled in Mumbai.

PP- Thanks a lot, Awadh Kishor ji of sparing your precious time for us.

Awadh Kishor Roy-It was pleasure in interacting with you. I hope that you have got what you wanted..