Patna, July 18: After registering exceptional double digit GDP growth rate, Bihar recorded 17.6% on-year growth in foodgrain production in 2011-12, beating growth rate of all states.

In FY12, foodgrain production in Bihar  reached 166 lakh metric tonne (MT).

Commenting on the exceptional performance, deputy CM  Sushil Kumar Modi said, "Never in the since Independence, had Bihar produced so much of foodgrain."

"It could be possible because of better communication network in rural areas and the government's emphasis on agriculture with an agriculture road map besides setting up an agriculture cabinet in the state," added Modi.

Once tagged as one of the BIMRU states, Bihar produced 83.05 lakh MT  rice in 2011-12 production, 2.5-times of the 31.02 lakh MT produced in 2010-11. Overall foodgrain production reached 166.69 lakh MT in FY12, against 103.17 lakh MT in FY11.

As agriculture is major economic activity in the state, Modi said the government intends to invest Rs 1.5 trillion in agriculture sector alone over the next five years.

Commenting on the latest state growth, he said that the state's overall growth rate has also increased to register 16.71% in 2011-12.

In historical perspective he said that the average growth rate in the state between 1980-81 and 1990-91 was 4.9% and there was zero growth rate between 1991-92 and 1995-96.

Adding further he said, the state registered 3.8% growth rate between 1994-95 and 2001-02.

Applauding the last five year's achievement he said, that the average total growth rate during the last five years stood at 11% and the government has a target to achieve an average growth rate of 13% in the next five years.

On realistic note, Modi said that state still lags behind other states in per capita income which was Rs 15,417 in 2011-12.