Patna,Mar,31:In the last ten years, Bihar has received considerable attention across the country and abroad for its remarkable ride on the development front. For a state which had suffered stagnation for longer period and which had almost resigned to its perpetual backwardness, this was a turning point, leading to new hopes and aspirations.

The transformation was seen because of the state government's firm commitment to an agenda of development which is both speedy and inclusive. To fulfill its growth agenda, the state government's had not only utilized its available resources most prudently, but had also strengthened its administrative machinery and introduced a number of institutional reforms.

The results clearly reflects that the past growth momentum of the state's economy was not a short term phenomenon, but the beginning of a long term stable growth run.

The recent count on the state income reflects that the economy of Bihar has been showing the commendable growth momentum for the last six years. During the first five years after bifurcation of Jharkhand in 2000, the state economy had grown at an annual rate of 4.42 percent which was way below the national average. The already crumbling economy of Bihar had become even more crippled after the separation, because most of the resources were gone to Jharkhand and Bihar was left with sand soil and water.

Bihar economy seen a turnaround because of the better policies pursued and executed by the government and, as a result, the economy grew at an annual rate of 11.36 percent during the period 2004-05 to 2010-11.

The current growth process will be seen as the 'revival of a stagnant economy'. This has been made possible by the fact that the investment pattern in Bihar showed a massive upsurge. From a small average annual plan size of around Rs. 1200 crores during the Tenth Plan (2002-2007), the annual plan size climbed to more than Rs. 15,000 crores during the Eleventh Plan period (2007-2012).

The investment portfolio also seen a total change and there was a huge stress on infrastructural development and social delivery system.

Now, the Bihar economy reached at the 'taking off' stage to sustainable development line. The buoyancy in the Bihar economy can be easily sustained by the interdependence in various sectors in the state.

The challenges are still with Bihar as it has estimated population of 103.8 million in 2011, Bihar is one of the most densely populated state of the India, with no less than 1102 persons living per sq. km. of its area.

As per the Planning Commission of India in 2004-05, 41.4 percent of the population in Bihar lived below poverty line in Bihar. It stands that 9 out of 10 people on the average live in the villages; poverty is the biggest challenge visible in rural areas of the Bihar.

Bihar is fighting hard to overcome the challenges associated with the poverty and move on the new development story.

Geographically Bihar is an Integral part of the Gangetic plains and hence has rich soil and possesses abundant water resources. With the separation of the Resource treasure Jharkhand in November 2000, the state lost its mineral resources and it only left with its largely agro-based economy.

However, with optimal use of its abundant agricultural resources, it is always possible likewise Punjab and Haryana to enhance growth of the economy and the pace of growth of Bihar's economy in last 6 years is a vindication of such a possibility.

The share of the primary sector in the GSDP of Bihar has been reducing on a continuous basis as the State government is putting more stress in the manufacturing and infrastructure sector so that the decline in the primary sector's contribution is supported by productivity gains in the secondary and tertiary sector.

The state cannot progress without a satisfactory growth of its agricultural sector because it is the mainstay for the people of Bihar as around 90 percent of the population still lives in rural area and they would continue to have the agriculture as a prime source of their livelihood.

At each stage of development, one must be careful that right kind of inputs and policy initiatives must be drive at the right time for maintaining the growth of agricultural sector, and adequate quantity of food grains is available to meet the demand for food. Or else, the resulting disequilibrium would pose a threat with a higher inflationary pressure for economy.

To combat the issue Bihar government is not only pushing for a second Green Revolution based on bio-technological improvement, but also going ahead with a concept of 'Rainbow Revolution' by covering every segment and sub segment. The initiatives to increase the production of pulses, vegetables, fruits, milk, fish and animal husbandry, alongside cereals are taken out by government.

The optimum strategy is being framed for enhancing the income and promoting the welfare of agricultural producers