No farmers to be denied scheme benefits over registry: Bihar Minister

Bihar’s Agriculture Minister Ram Kripal Yadav on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) asserted that no farmer in the State would be deprived of benefits under government agricultural schemes for not being registered under the farmer registry.

“We will not leave any farmer out of the ambit of the farmer registry, and no one will be deprived of the benefits of Central Government schemes. My department is completely taking care of the farmers’ interest,” Mr. Yadav said while addressing the media in Patna. 

Under the ‘AgriStack’ initiative, the department has so far prepared unique farmer IDs for 45 lakh people—about 52% of the target. Farmers can apply online or obtain ID cards through Vasudha Kendras in their villages. The registry aims to create a unique ID for each farmer to streamline access to Central and State schemes. 

Outlining his vision of “Samridh Kisan, Viksit Bihar” (prosperous farmers, developed Bihar), Mr. Yadav said he and his senior officials would undertake district visits after the current session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly to address farmers’ grievances.

Noting that over 90% of Bihar’s farmers are small and marginal, he said the Nitish Kumar government, with the support of Narendra Modi-led Central Government, is committed to providing a timely supply of fertilisers, seeds, tools, insecticide and market access.

He asserted that there would not be any shortage of ‘fertiliser’ in the State. Warning against blackmarketing of fertilisers, the Minister said flying squads had been formed at the headquarters level. As of February 17, 104 FIRs had been lodged and licences of 419 fertiliser shops cancelled.

With a view to mitigating the dependence on imports of pulses and oilseed, the State Government has set a target of achieving self-reliance in the production of the two crucial items, Mr. Yadav said and added that the acreage of both pulses and oilseeds will be doubled in the next five years, with crop planning mapped district-wise.

Citing the impact of successive Agriculture Roadmaps—the fourth in operation since October 2023—he said the productivity of rice increased to 29.70 quintal per hectare in 2024-25 from 12.37 quintal per hectare in 2007-08, with production increasing to 99.34 lakh tonnes from 42.66 lakh tonnes.

The productivity of wheat has increased to 33.44 quintal per hectare between 2017-18 and 2024-25, whereas it was 18.29 quintal per hectare between 2003-04 and 2007-08. The production has increased to 78.27 lakh tonnes from 37.97 lakh tonnes.

Similarly, the productivity of maize has increased to 69.13 quintal per hectare between 2017-18 and 2024-25, whereas it was 25.04 quintal per hectare between 2003-04 and 2007-08. The production has increased to 66.03 lakh tonnes from 15.97 lakh tonnes.