Diversified Sustainable Agriculture in Eastern India

Abstract

This chapter has stressed that farmers’ mind set needs to be changed towards the knowledge-based thinking like that of farmers of agro rich states of the country. The problems of marginal and small-scale farmers of the eastern region can be addressed through the state initiatives supporting contract farming. Diversification of agriculture in eastern zone was towards non-cereal products and to some extent towards livestock. Presently demand for protein based products like meat, egg, milk and fish as well as fruits and vegetables has increased substantially with rise in income, assisted by demographic dividend and policy initiatives. This has offered huge opportunity to the unexplored fertile agricultural area of eastern zone to sustain diversified agricultural activities. The need of the hour is the young farmers’ mind set towards application of modern agro facilities like contract farming, trading in futures and other facilities from finance and insurance through collaborative efforts.