ice is the main crop of the district. It accounts for more than one third gross area sown. Other important foodgrains grown are
maize, pulsesand
wheat. Non-food crops consist mostly of
oil-seeds, cash crops such as
vegetables, water-melons etc., are also grown in Diara belt.
Patna is one of the few district of the State which have a network of irrigation canals since the British days even so after independence in 1947, cinsiderable attention has been paid to the provision of irrigational facilities. Besides the various irrigational projects executed in the districts, tube wells under the Patna-Barh-Ekangasarai-Bihta Emergency River Pump and Technical co-operation Administration Schemes were installed in the districts.
Animal husbandary:
he livestock population of Patna is indicated below:-
| Cows 125121 |
| Buffaloes 173118 |
| Bulls, & bullocks 141744 |
| Sheeps: 13204 |
| Goats 146667 |
| Pigs 21263 |
The no. of veterinary hospitals, dispensaries and artificial insemination centres has increased considerably over the decades. This has resulted in decline in the incidence of cattle mortality. The district has got a veterinary college located atPhulwarisharif in Patna.
The GovernmentPoultry Farm at Patna has become very popular and its eggs are in great demand in the city. The city is also served by a dairy plant known as thePatna Dairy Projectwhich is being managed by the National Dairy Development Board at present.
The extensive bed of river Ganges in Patna and other places in the distribution offers one of the best fishing grounds. The spawn ofrehu, cattla andhilsa is also collected from the river Ganges. It is in great demand in other part of Bihar and West Bengal. It is stocked in specially prepared nursery tanks. It develops to fry and fingerling stages within a fortnight and then it is ready for stocking in tanks.
Fishing practically begins in October and the peak season in December, January and February, when a variety if fish can be seen in the fish market. There are a large number of rivers & streams, ponds and low lying fields in the district where water accumulates in the rainy season and these have considerable potential for development of fishery. The Fisheries Development Schemes of the district are managed by the district Fisheries office located in Patna under the administrative control of the Director of Fisheries, Government of Bihar.
