BPSC Exam Prep

■  Bihar's climatic and topographical conditions make it favourable for the growth of allied sectors in the state.  The growing importance of allied sectors such as fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy farming in Bihar is largely due to its role in supporting livelihoods. As labour-intensive sectors, they employ a large segment of the population and help the poor rural households in earning supplementary income. Livestock and fisheries are the  fastest-growing  sub-sectors within the primary sector, growing at a rate of  10%  and  7%.  respectively. Also, their  share in the agriculture GSVA  has been averaging around  30%  and  8%,  respectively during the last five years (2016-17 to 2020-21). ■ Fisheries

■ Bihar is endowed with vast fertile land which supports agriculture as its mainstay of the economy. About 74% of the workforce in Bihar depends on agricultural and allied activities for their livelihood. Besides generating employment, it also provides raw materials to industries augments food supply and assists in poverty alleviation. The State Government is implementing various schemes under the AgricultureRoadmap since 2008 for augmenting agricultural productivity and farmers’ income. Several programmes have been outlined in the Agriculture RoadmapIII (2017-2022) to increase farmers’ income, ensure food and nutritional security, provide gainful employment, and encourage sustainable use of natural resources. As a result of various initiatives, the state has won 5 Krishi Karman Puraskar since 2012 . The agriculture and allied sector grew at a pace of 2.1% during the last five years (2016-17 to 2020-21). Among the sub-sectors, livestock and fisheries have grown at a pace of