Systems, extent and constraints of tenant farming in Bihar: An exploratory study

Exploratory study of tenant farming (Bihar)

Abstract

Tenant farming remains a vital yet under-recognized component of agriculture in Bihar, India, where marginal and landless farmers predominantly cultivate leased lands without legal protections. This study, conducted collaboratively by ICAR-RCER Patna and World Vision India, explores the systems, extent, and constraints of tenant farming across Bhojpur, Muzaffarpur, and Vaishali districts. This study employed a combination of structured surveys (n=360), focused group discussions, and expert field observations during 2020–21, and we captured socio-economic profiles, tenancy patterns, and farmers’ perceptions. We find that more than 85% of tenant farmers are marginal or landless, with tenancy arrangements primarily involving sharecropping or the Bataidari system (41%), fixed cash (33%), and fixed produce (16%). Predominant crops include paddy and wheat, with the emerging cultivation of vegetables and fruits in irrigated areas. Major constraints identified are high input costs, lack of formal lease agreements, limited access to institutional credit, and absence of compensation during crop failures. The study emphasizes the urgent need for policy interventions, including the formalization of tenancy agreements to extend the benefits of government schemes such as credit access, crop insurance, and disaster compensation to tenant farmers.