Agricultural economy of Jharkhand region: Constraints and potential

Abstract

Despite endowed with rich minerals, the economy of Jharkhand region is predominantly agricultural with 71 % of its population dependent on agriculture for their livelihood and 43 % of income being delivered from agriculture. Agriculture of this region is characterised by its low productivity and a quasi-stagnation of its growth rate over a long period. The region has suffered due to neglect of investment in rural infrastructure like irrigation, rural roads, rural electrification, market improvement etc. It has no as adverse geo-physical conditions, soil, topography ground water, rivers as many other regions of our country have, yet the latter have achieved high productivity and growth rate of agriculture by harnessing their resources. The potential of Jharkhand region for agricultural development remains largely untapped. The same can be utilised by making heavy investment in rural infrastructure.