Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(6): 2673-2681 2673 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.606.318 Agribusiness Opportunity for Pulse Growing Farmers in Bihar: A Situation Analysis Meera Kumari 1* , S.L. Bairwa 2 , L.K. Meena 1 and Sk.M. Rahaman 1 1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur-813210, India 2 Department of Agricultural Economics, Dr. Kalam Agricultural College, Kisanganj, Bihar, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Pulses occupy a unique position in Indian agriculture. It is most suitable crop for dry land farming. It is a protein rich staple food and consumed in the form of split pulse as Dal. It contains about 22 percent protein, which is almost three times that of cereals. Pulses in India have long been considered as the poor man‟s only source of protein. Pulses are grown on 23 million hectares of area with an annual production of 15 million tons in 2003-04; it has been increased to 25 million hectares in the year 2013-14 and production during the same has been increased from 15 to19.7 million tones. However productivity International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 6 (2017) pp. 2673-2681 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Pulses occupy a unique position in Indian agriculture. It plays a vital role in fixing atmospheric nitrogen in to Nitrate and make the soil fertile. Banka district is one of the important pulse trading centers in Bihar. Agro climatic condition of Banka as well as Bhagalpur district of Bihar is suitable for main pulses like chickpea and pigeon pea cultivation. An effort has been made to prove the leverage of suitable agro- climatic condition for the pulse crops and agribusiness opportunity available in that area. Growth and instability of major pulses shown significant but negative growth in area and production however productivity of chickpea shown positive growth rate over the period of time. As chickpea is cheapest source of protein and has multipurpose use, especially in Bhagalpur district people used it as Bessoon, Sattu and whole chana dall and also as substitute of vegetable during the off season when the price of vegetable in market is very high, people could not afford to buy it. Crop utilization of main product and by products of traditionally grown variety hardly sold in market by the farmers, better taste having high demand in the market is the most preferred traits for consumption and marketing of the produce of chickpea in Bihar. It was mainly used for consumption purpose in both of district. Despite of these fact available dall Mills in the region was very few in numbers. Instead of depending upon only farming; farmers can go for subsidiary agribusiness. “Mini dall mill” and processing of sattu can be a good agribusiness in that area. As it required less investment and can gets good return. Government subsidy is also available for the same. Farmers, self-help group (SHG), small entrepreneur, unemployed youth can leverage this opportunity and can start their own agribusiness. Keywords Agribusiness, Growth trend, Consumption, Preferred traits, Chickpea, Dal Mill. Accepted: 26 May 2017 Available Online: 10 June 2017 Article Info