The eastern region comprising of eastern UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, and Chhattisgarh occupies about 22.5% of the country's geographical area and is inhabited by about 35% of the country's population (Figs. 1 & 2). The region can be divided into 3 distinct physiographical units namely (i) plains of eastern UP, Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam; (ii) hilly and plateau regions in eastern UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, and Assam; and (iii) coastal plains of West Bengal and Orissa.
The eastern region is a “Low Productivity-High Potential”, resource rich region inhabited by resource poor people with small land : human ratio. The climate of the region is tropical, hot and humid except in hilly areas with high rainfall. The average annual rainfall varies from 1025 mm to 2823 mm. Even though the region has rich rain, surface and ground water resources, they are grossly underutilized, with the result that a large proportion of the cultivated area does not receive any irrigation water. The farmers depend on the vagaries of the monsoon for crop production. Owing to poor utilization of water resources, the cropping intensity in the region is low. Perennial and seasonal water bodies abound in this region but their potential has not been exploited. These provide a great scope for development of aquatic crops like makhana and fisheries. The eastern region has specific advantages as well as handicaps. Though, Eastern Region is endowed with natural resources but, so far its potential could not be harnessed
in terms of improving agricultural productivity, poverty alleviation and livelihood improvement. There is a large gap between potential and productivity of major crops, horticulture, fisheries etc.
According to socio-economic characterization (Fig.3), the districts in the eastern region have been classified into four different categories: very good, good, average and poor on the basis of eight parameters:a) road length b) credit by scheduled banks c) percentage of urban population d) percentage of children below six years e) percentage of literates, percentage of workers f) percentage of double cropped area g) decennial growth rate. Maximum districts of the region fall under poor and average category.
Employment in agricultural sector is limited and a large proportion of the population still remains below the poverty line and suffers from malnutrition. On the basis of socio-economic conditions, Planning Commission has identified 150 disadvantaged districts in the country for livelihood improvement. Majority of these districts belong to eastern region in the states of Bihar, Orissa, Chattisgarh etc.. This underlines the research and developmental efforts to generate opportunities for self-employment in rural areas through agri-based and allied activities.
