While Bihar has long been recognized primarily for its vast agricultural workforce and rice-wheat production, a quiet but transformative revolution has been unfolding across the state. From becoming the world’s largest producer of makhana (fox nuts) to emerging as India’s top mushroom-producing state, Bihar is redefining its agricultural identity and establishing itself as a formidable force in specialized, high-value crop production. This remarkable transformation showcases how strategic planning, government support, and farmer innovation can turn a traditional agrarian economy into a diversified agricultural powerhouse.
Makhana: Bihar’s Golden Export
Bihar dominates the global makhana industry with an iron grip, contributing approximately 90% of the world’s total makhana production. The state accounts for more than 85% of India’s makhana output, with India itself meeting 80% of global demand. This aquatic crop, derived from the Euryale ferox water lily plant, has transformed from a local specialty into an international sensation.
The districts of Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnia, Katihar, Saharsa, Supaul, Kishanganj, Sitamarhi, and Araria form the heart of Bihar’s makhana production belt. Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnia, and Katihar alone contribute 80% of the state’s total output. India produces around 120,000 metric tons of makhana seeds from 15,000 hectares, which yields approximately 40,000 metric tons of processed (popped) makhana.
Bihar’s ecosystem—characterized by flood-prone wetlands and seasonal ponds—provides ideal conditions for makhana cultivation. The Mallah community, with generations of traditional knowledge, plays a vital role in harvesting and roasting makhana, using precision techniques that preserve seed quality and maximize yield during the popping process.
The economic impact is substantial. The estimated value of production at farmers’ level is Rs. 250 crore, generating revenue of Rs. 550 crore at traders’ level. Recognizing this potential, the ruling National Democratic Alliance promised the formation of a dedicated Makhana Board in the 2025 elections to support fox nut farmers by improving access to schemes, expanding markets, and enhancing livelihoods.
The global makhana market, valued at $43.56 million in 2023, is expected to reach $100 million by 2033. Bihar’s GI-tagged Mithila Makhana has already been exported to the UAE, USA, New Zealand, and Canada. In September 2025, a significant 7-metric-ton consignment was flagged off to New Zealand, Canada, and the USA—executed by Neha Arya, a woman entrepreneur from Darbhanga, symbolizing Bihar’s commitment to inclusive and gender-sensitive trade promotion.
The Mushroom Revolution: Bihar Takes National Lead
Perhaps the most stunning agricultural transformation in Bihar has been the mushroom production revolution. From negligible production just a few years ago, Bihar has emerged as India’s top mushroom-producing state, with production skyrocketing from 28,000 tonnes in 2021-22 to an astounding 41,310 tonnes in 2023-24—achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 21.46%.
Bihar’s climatic conditions—including ideal temperatures, high humidity, and rich soil—make it a prime location for mushroom cultivation. The state government has aggressively promoted mushroom farming through substantial subsidies and support schemes. Under the Mushroom Hut Production Scheme 2024-25, the government provides a 50% subsidy on unit costs, with the total establishment cost of a mushroom hut set at Rs. 179,500.
Each mushroom hut covers 1,500 square feet (50 feet x 30 feet) and is designed to accommodate facilities required for commercial mushroom production. The government also mandates training from authorized institutions, ensuring farmers acquire proper technical knowledge about cultivation techniques, care, and marketing.
Success stories abound. Shashi Bhushan Tiwari from Muzaffarpur’s Jasauli village returned from Delhi during the COVID-19 lockdown and established a button mushroom production unit using metal pillars and PUF panels. His cold chamber can accommodate 5,000 bags of mushrooms yielding 10,000 kg every two to two-and-a-half months. Today, he earns approximately Rs. 2 lakh daily from his mushroom farming enterprise.
The mushroom revolution has not only provided viable livelihood alternatives to small-scale farmers but also addressed environmental challenges by recycling agricultural waste and promoting sustainable practices. The high rate of growth spells out Bihar’s potential to play an important role in India’s mushroom production landscape, contributing to agricultural diversification and rural income generation.
Litchi: Bihar’s Sweet Export Success
Bihar is the largest producer of litchi in India, accounting for nearly 40% of the country’s total production, followed by West Bengal (12%) and Jharkhand (10%). The state’s Shahi litchi from Muzaffarpur received GI certification in 2018 and has since become a symbol of Bihar’s horticultural excellence.
In 2025, Bihar set a litchi export record, shipping 250 tons from Darbhanga airport—a 108% increase over the previous year’s 120 tons. This export surge reflects enhanced production volumes and improved farmer market access facilitated by streamlined air cargo services. Litchis reached major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, with Indigo Airlines transporting 159.2 tons, SpiceJet handling 47 tons, and Akasa Air carrying 44.5 tons.
International exports have also gained momentum. The first consignment of GI-certified Shahi Litchi was exported to the United Kingdom by air in May 2021, with the fruit sourced from farmers in Muzaffarpur and exported by Cira Enterprises. In 2023, Jardalu mangoes also made their way to international markets.
A breakthrough in packaging technology using Modified Atmospheric Packaging (MAP) promises to revolutionize Bihar’s litchi exports. While litchis typically have a shelf life of just five days, MAP extends this to at least 15 days, with potential to keep fruit fresh for up to 30 days. India is now developing a ‘Sea Protocol’ for litchis to boost exports through cost-effective sea shipments, collaborating with Madagascar to establish specific harvesting timelines, temperature controls, and ripening guidelines.
The litchi honey produced in Bihar has gained national and international acclaim for its superior taste, color, and flavor compared to honey from other states. This region benefits from three to four honey flow seasons—including litchi, mustard, mixed honey from mung, sesame, jamun, and drumstick—compared to one or two in other states.
Honey Production: Bihar’s Sweet Revolution
Bihar has emerged as the fourth-largest honey producer in India, behind Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Punjab. The state’s focus on horticulture over recent years has paid dividends, increasing honey production by 20% since 2018-19. In 2023-24, Bihar contributed 12.3% of national honey output, producing 18,030 metric tonnes compared to 15,000 metric tonnes five years earlier.
The state produces diverse monofloral varieties: Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, and Samastipur are renowned for litchi honey; Nalanda and Patna produce mustard honey; while sesame honey thrives in Aurangabad and Rohtas. Bihar’s moderate climate and long flowering periods provide perfect conditions for bees to thrive.
The central government selected 17 districts in Bihar under the National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission to promote the “Sweet Revolution”. Districts including Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Darbhanga, East and West Champaran, Jamui, Kishanganj, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea, Rohtas, Samastipur, Saran, Sitamarhi, and Vaishali received Rs. 1.30 crore as the first installment.
Priority is given to women’s groups, JEEViKA (Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project), ensuring that 30% of beneficiaries are women. The scheme provides subsidies for beekeeping equipment, with the Bihar government offering up to 90% subsidy on beekeeping initiatives. About 50,000 people in the state are associated with honey production, and Bihar’s honey enjoys high demand nationally.
Organic Farming: The Jaivik Corridor Initiative
In 2020, Bihar launched an innovative Jaivik Corridor Yojana (Organic Corridor Scheme) along the Ganges River across 13 districts to promote organic farming, protect the river’s biodiversity, and reduce chemical runoff into the sacred waterway. The districts—Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Nalanda, Vaishali, Saran, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Lakhisarai, Bhagalpur, Munger, and Katihar—form a continuous organic farming belt along the Ganges.
The scheme targets making 20,000 acres fully organic according to National Program on Organic Production (NPOP) standards. Currently, more than 20,000 farmers are engaged in organic farming across 19,594 acres. The Bihar State Biological Mission monitors implementation, ensuring adherence to organic standards.
Financial incentives are substantial: farmers receive Rs. 11,500 per acre in the first year, followed by Rs. 6,500 per acre in the second and third years. The scheme provides Common Facility Centers, isolation vans, and refrigerated vans at 75% subsidy, with marketing support through dedicated agencies ensuring farmers receive fair prices for organic produce.
The program has yielded remarkable results. The Jaivik Corridor Yojana Phase 2 nearly met its physical target for 2023-24, distributing 20,000 acres across 13 districts with an allocation of Rs. 3,192.62 lakh. Initially planned to run until 2022-23, the scheme’s success prompted the government to extend it until 2025. The model has become a national example of environmentally sustainable agriculture that protects soil health while maintaining productivity.
Maize: Transforming Seed Quality and Production
Bihar achieved a historic milestone in 2025 by successfully converting 100% of maize cultivation to improved seed varieties, contributing to an astounding 300% increase in maize production across the state. According to the second advance estimates for 2024-25, Bihar produced 39.90 lakh tonnes of maize, making it the fourth-largest maize-producing state after Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
During Rabi season 2025, maize was sown in 4.73 lakh hectares (11.69 lakh acres) in Bihar, compared to 2.95 lakh hectares in the first advance estimates. The state’s Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) improvements extend beyond maize, with the Bihar State Seed Corporation—reactivated in 2005—launching foundation seed production programs across all 241 state seed multiplication projects.
Fisheries: Achieving Self-Sufficiency
Bihar’s fisheries sector has witnessed phenomenal growth, with fish production increasing 81.98% over the decade, from 4.79 lakh metric tonnes in 2014-15 to 8.73 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24. The state advanced from 9th position to 4th position among inland fish-producing states nationally.
Bihar has become nearly self-sufficient in fish production, currently producing 7.62 lakh metric tonnes annually against domestic demand of 8.02 lakh metric tonnes. The state’s per capita fish consumption stands at 6.464 kg annually, with Catla fish being the first preference (164.189 thousand metric tonnes production), followed by Rohu (154.794 thousand metric tonnes) and Mrigal (107.586 thousand metric tonnes).
In 2023-24, Bihar exported 38.38 thousand metric tonnes of fish to neighboring and other states. The fishing and aquaculture sector grew by 11.1% in 2022-23. The Prime Minister’s Special Package sanctioned Rs. 279.55 crore (central share: Rs. 102.49 crore) to promote fish production, supporting activities including fish seed rearing, construction of new ponds, hatcheries, cage culture, wholesale and retail fish markets, and mobile retail outlets.
Bihar’s fisheries transformation occurred despite producing less than 1% of India’s fish seeds, forcing heavy dependence on other states. The government addressed this by creating linkages between local hatcheries and private hatcheries outside Bihar, along with government institutions like the National Fisheries Development Board in Bhubaneshwar. This enabled stocking of high-quality improved species such as Jayanti rohu, improved catla, and amur carp.
Dairy: Strengthening Milk Production
Milk production in Bihar increased from 7.77 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 12.85 million tonnes in 2023-24—a growth of approximately 65%. The Bihar dairy industry reached 6.0 million tons in 2024 and is projected to reach 8.4 million tons by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.74%.
Bihar has 20 milk processing centers with a total processing capacity of 4,855 thousand liters per day. Major facilities include Samastipur (835 thousand liters), Barauni (500 thousand liters), Bihar Sharif (400 thousand liters), Arrah (300 thousand liters), Muzaffarpur (290 thousand liters), and Patna (275 thousand liters).
In July 2025, the Bihar cabinet approved establishment of five new dairy plants worth Rs. 316 crore. Two dairy plants in Darbhanga (Rs. 71.32 crore) and Wazirganj/Gaya (Rs. 50.27 crore) will each process 2 lakh liters daily, while Gopalganj will handle 1 lakh liters daily (Rs. 54.73 crore). Two milk powder plants in Dehri-on-Sone (Rs. 69.66 crore) and Sitamarhi (Rs. 70.33 crore) will each process 30 metric tonnes daily.
Vegetable Production and Horticulture
Bihar ranks among the top five vegetable-producing states in India, with potato, onion, eggplant, and cauliflower dominating production. Key vegetable-producing districts include Sitamarhi, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, West Champaran, Samastipur, Katihar, Begusarai, Patna, and Jehanabad.
The government launched the Bihar State Vegetable Processing and Marketing Scheme under the cooperative department to address challenges in the vegetable value chain. The scheme establishes Primary Vegetable Cooperative Societies (PVCS) at grassroots/farmer/block levels, unions at cluster levels, and an apex federation at state level, marketing produce under the umbrella brand “Tarkaari”. This three-tier structure aims to ensure remunerative prices for farmers while providing standard-quality vegetables at reasonable prices to consumers, eliminating middlemen.
Bihar is also renowned for producing fruits like mango, banana, and guava, along with flowers including marigold, rose, and jasmine. The state’s Jardalu mango from Bhagalpur received GI certification in 2018 alongside Katarni rice and Magahi paan. Famous for its golden-yellow hue, distinctive aroma, and velvety sweetness, Jardalu mango weighs 220-250 grams per piece and is known for its health benefits—low glycemic index, fiber-rich, and digestive-friendly, suitable even for diabetics.
Since 2007, Bihar government has sent Jardalu mangoes as gifts to India’s President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Rajya Sabha Chairman, and other VVIPs. Over 1,000 kg of organically-grown Jardalu mangoes were exported to the UK, with plans underway to export to the USA and EU countries.
Women’s Empowerment Through JEEViKA
The Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project (JEEViKA) represents India’s largest state-level women’s socio-economic empowerment program, working directly with nearly 90 lakh families in rural Bihar. Introduced in 2007 under World Bank support in six districts, JEEViKA operates in 34,043 villages across 534 blocks and 38 districts.
The program has mobilized over 912,124 Self-Help Groups (SHGs), federated into 59,085 Village Organizations and 978 Cluster Level Federations. These community institutions have leveraged more than Rs. 10,650 crores in bank credit, while SHG women collectively mobilized nearly Rs. 1,056.90 crores in savings.
JEEViKA supports over 6.48 lakh women entrepreneurs in rural Bihar who have established small businesses creating additional incomes and new jobs. In agriculture, JEEViKA promotes System of Crop Intensification (SCI), nutrition gardens, and 63 Women Farmers Producer Companies (WFPCs), empowering women to lead rather than merely support farming.
The government’s ambitious 2025-26 budget set a goal for 52 lakh women farmers to integrate advanced farming techniques, establishing 85 organic farming clusters and linking women with Farmer Producer Companies. Additionally, 2,000 Jeevika Didis will run customer service centers delivering banking and digital services to rural communities, supported by Rs. 10,000 crore in bank loans.
Agricultural Exports and International Recognition
Bihar’s agricultural transformation is attracting global attention. At the International Buyer-Seller Meet (IBSM) 2025 held in Patna in May, over 70 international buyers from 20 countries, including six global retail chains like LuLu Group (UAE), SARTAJ (Japan), Datar & Sons (UAE), and Global Foods Trading (Germany), participated alongside 50 domestic and 20 institutional buyers.
The event generated 400+ curated B2B meetings focusing on rice, spices, makhana, and fruits. Twelve companies confirmed long-term procurement commitments across multiple product categories. In FY 2024-25, Bihar received 10,270 loans worth Rs. 624.42 crore under the PMFME Scheme—the highest among all Indian states.
The opening of APEDA’s Regional Office in Patna in September 2025 marked a watershed moment, offering farmers, producers, and exporters direct access to registration, advisory services, market intelligence, certification assistance, and international trade opportunities. Previously, Bihar exporters relied on APEDA’s Varanasi office, but the new Patna office significantly reduces turnaround time and strengthens coordination with state institutions.
Economic Transformation: Industry Overtakes Agriculture
For the first time in Bihar’s history, the industrial sector overtook agriculture as the main contributor to gross state domestic product (GSDP) in 2024-25. Agriculture contributed 22.4% while industry added 23.2% to the state’s economy. However, agriculture, forestry, and fishing still account for approximately one-fifth of the gross state value added annually, employing over 75% of the population.
The advanced estimate by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation indicates Bihar’s GSDP increased by 13.9% at current prices in 2024-25—higher than the national GDP growth rate of 9.8%. Among major states, Bihar was the fastest-growing after Tamil Nadu. At constant prices (2011-12), Bihar’s GSDP growth rate was 8.64%.
The state’s per capita income increased from Rs. 68,624 at current prices in 2023-24 to Rs. 76,490 in 2024-25. The crop sector expanded by 6.7%, fishing and aquaculture grew by 11.1%, and livestock advanced by 2.7% in 2022-23. The share of agriculture in total power consumption increased dramatically to 17.6% in 2023-24 from just 4.3% in 2019-20.
Investment in Agriculture Infrastructure
The Bihar government’s expenditure in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector increased to Rs. 5,171 crore in 2023-24 from Rs. 4,066 crore in 2019-20. Disbursements under the Kisan Credit Card scheme rose to Rs. 7,080.07 crore in 2023-24 from Rs. 3,204.51 crore in 2019-20.
Rice production increased by 21% and wheat production by 10.7%. The livestock and fisheries sectors increased at a rate of 9.50%. In 2023-24, the crop sector expanded by 6.7%, fishing and aquaculture grew by 11.1%, and livestock advanced by 2.7%.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite remarkable progress, Bihar’s agricultural sector faces structural challenges. Government procurement remains weak, and the cold storage network is inadequate, leading to spoilage especially in vegetables and fruits. A large share of produce passes through unregulated mandis and middlemen, hurting price realization. The fragmented landholding situation poses significant obstacles, with 91.2% of farm families having marginal holdings (less than one hectare), accounting for 57.7% of total land area.
However, Bihar’s agricultural revival journey shows tremendous promise. With sustained policy focus, deeper market integration, continued support for innovation at the grassroots, and massive infrastructure investments including the upcoming NIFTEM institute, Bihar is positioned to emerge as a major contributor to India’s agricultural GDP. The convergence of traditional farming knowledge, modern technology adoption, women’s empowerment through JEEViKA, organic farming initiatives, and strategic export promotion is transforming Bihar from a traditional agrarian economy into India’s hidden agricultural powerhouse—a compelling growth story that deserves national and international recognition.
