In Bihar, agriculture or farming
is a source of pride for every citizen. Our boon is that Bihar covers most of
the grassy lands and the banks of rivers, which gift us multiple sources of
rich income and a solid foundation for each Bihari. Our farming land is gold to
us. On the basis of farming, we leave other states behind in comparison to
richness, top personalities that make us different from others, and
outstanding.
For farmers living along the
banks of rivers in Bihar, agriculture or farming is the combination of both
boon and bane—depending on the nature of the river, the depth of floods, and
the usual agricultural techniques.
Benefits of Farming Along the Riverbanks As a Boon
High-quality soil
Rivers flowing down from the
Himalayas bring fresh and well-seeded soil with them every year. This soil is
naturally rich, and it requires very little fertilizer for better agricultural
activities.
Bumper benefits from
vegetables and open crops
In the sandy soil and moist riverbanks, farmers earn good profits from cash crops like watermelon, muskmelon,
cucumber, pumpkin, and pointed parwal. These areas are also ideal for crops
like watery singhara and makhana.
Irrigation facility
The groundwater level always
remains high, due to which there is no shortage of water for irrigation even
during summer days.
Demerits of Farming Along the River Banks As a Bane
An unexpected flood that can
fail crops: Floods during the monsoon completely wash away standing crops.
Washing away of soil
Rivers keep changing their way,
due to which many times the fertile land of farmers gets drowned in the river
overnight, and they become landless.
Fear of uncertainty
Farming along the riverbanks is a
gamble, as during heavy rains and floods, farmers are likely to suffer huge
losses.
Prevention and solution
The Bihar Agriculture Department
and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) are connecting farmers with these trailers to
connect them with new technology:
Machan Farming
Even when the land farming washes
away during the flood season, vegetables are grown safely by making a machan.
Various flood-minded
strategies
With the help of the government,
farmers are now planting improved varieties of paddy like 'Swarna Sub-1,' which
does not get affected even after being drowned in water for 14 days.
Conclusion
Riverside agriculture in Bihar is both a boon and a bane, depending on how nature and management align. The moist soil deposited by rivers offers farmers rich opportunities for abundant crop production, better livelihoods, and economic growth.
