Bihar registers 16.71 per cent growth rate

Patna: Bihar recorded its highest growth rate of 16.71 per cent during 2011-2012 thanks to a record in foodgrain production, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said on Tuesday.

"Bihar has recorded growth rate of 16.71 per cent in last fiscal, the highest in the last five years," Mr Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio, told media persons in Patna.

Bihar produced 166.69 lakh tonnes of foodgrain during 2011-2012, compared to 103.47 lakh tonnes last year, Mr Modi said, quoting latest figures which were made available in June.

Paddy production contributed the most. From 31.02 lakh tonnes in 2010-11, it jumped to 83.05 lakh tonnes in 2011-12, he said.

Mr Modi said that the 2011-12 agriculture production marked a growth rate of 17.16 per cent, which was considerably higher than in the previous years.

He said that there was misconception about Bihar's growth rate as it was believed that it was based only on construction and communication. "It has now been established that the increase of growth rate has been because of record production of foodgrain."