The Chief Minister's Office of Bihar announced on Thursday, 9 July 2026 that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed officials to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to all farmers through dedicated agriculture feeders, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The directive was issued during a high-level review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister.

The official post stated: 'बैठक के दौरान माननीय मुख्यमंत्री जी ने सभी किसानों को एग्रीकल्चर फीडर के माध्यम से प्रतिदिन सुबह 6 बजे से शाम 6 बजे तक विद्युत आपूर्ति सुनिश्चित करने का निर्देश दिया।' ['During the meeting, the honourable Chief Minister directed that electricity supply be ensured to all farmers through agriculture feeders daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.']

Context

Agriculture feeders are dedicated power distribution lines that separate the electrical load of farming operations — primarily irrigation pump sets — from domestic and commercial supply lines. By isolating agricultural demand on its own circuit, grid managers can schedule reliable, uninterrupted power blocks for farmers without affecting household supply. The 12-hour daytime window aligns with peak irrigation needs during the crop-growing season.

Bihar is a predominantly agrarian state where a large share of cultivated land depends on groundwater irrigation. Erratic power supply has historically forced farmers to rely on expensive diesel pump sets, raising input costs and cutting into farm incomes.

Policy Backdrop

Across India, states have progressively separated agricultural feeders from domestic lines as part of broader power-sector reforms aimed at managing grid load and reducing transmission losses. The approach has demonstrated measurable gains in cropping intensity and equipment longevity in states that have implemented it systematically. Bihar's directive follows this established national pattern of rural electricity reform.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has over successive terms placed rural infrastructure — including roads, water supply, and electricity access — at the centre of his administration's agenda. The agriculture feeder model represents a continuation of that policy orientation, extending reliable power as a direct input-cost subsidy to the farming community.

Stakeholder Impact

Bihar's farming community stands to benefit most immediately. A guaranteed 12-hour daytime supply window enables farmers to plan irrigation schedules, reduce dependence on diesel generators, and lower operational costs per crop cycle. This is particularly significant ahead of the kharif (monsoon) sowing season, when irrigation demand peaks.

The directive also places accountability on the state power distribution utility to deliver on the commitment. District-level electricity officials and feeder operators will be expected to maintain supply within the prescribed hours, with the Chief Minister's review meeting signalling active top-level oversight.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to implementation: whether the existing feeder-separation infrastructure across Bihar's districts is adequate to deliver the mandated hours, and how quickly gaps will be addressed. Progress reports on actual supply hours delivered — district by district — will be a key indicator of whether the directive translates into on-ground change for farmers.

Sustained follow-through on this directive could meaningfully reduce agricultural input costs in the state and improve productivity ahead of the next cropping cycle.