Jharkhand is blessed with abundant natural and mineral resources as well as a cheerful and hard working human population, mostly of tribal families with a rich cultural heritage and traditional knowledge. Out of a total geographical area of 7.9 million ha, nearly 2.6 million ha are cultivated, while 2.3 million ha (29% of total area) are under forests. The area under assured irrigation is less than 10 percent. Out of a total population of 27 million, 21 million (78%) live in villages, while about 6 million (22%) reside in urban areas. Nearly 49% of the population lives below the poverty line. Rural poverty is greater than urban poverty. The most important rural professions are crop and animal husbandry, fisheries and agro-forestry. Nearly 67% of the total labour force is dependent on agriculture for their income and work security.

Out of the 22 districts of State, Gumla and Simdega districts have more than 85% of the total workforce engaged in agriculture. The State falls under agro-climatic region VII, known as the Eastern Plateau and Hill region. Average annual rainfall varies from 1300 mm to 1400 mm, nearly 80% of which is received during the SW Monsoon (June to September). There are two river systems in the State, Damodar and Swarnarekha, but most of the agriculture is rain dependent. Most of the farm families fall under the category of small and marginal farmers, with nearly 83% of the operational holdings below 2.0 ha.

About 92% of the cropped area is under paddy, wheat, maize, pulses and oilseeds (Niger, linseed and mustard). The productivity of crops is low and the deficit with reference to demand and supply is as high as 52% in the case of cereals, 65% in the case of fruits, 51% in the case of milk and 34% in the case of fish. Only one crop is taken during the kharif season in most parts of the State and current fallow and other fallow lands contribute 2.0 million ha (about 25% of the area). It is thus clear that accelerated agriculture development holds the key to poverty eradication and employment generation in the State.

The Government of India placed in Parliament, in November 2007, a National Policy for Farmers which calls for a paradigm shift from a purely commodity centred approach to agricultural development to a human centred approach. The policy calls for 'improving the economic viability of farming by substantially increasing the net income of farmers and to ensuring that agricultural progress is measured by advances made in this income'. The economic wellbeing of the farming family should become the major goal of agricultural development strategies and programs. Only then, we will be able to eradicate the pervasive poverty and malnutrition prevailing in the country. The Government of India has also initiated the following programs for strengthening the farmers'  livelihood and income security:   Continue.....