Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh:-

 

Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh is a part of life for the majority of the population and contribute maximum to the economy of the state but still having huge potential.

Statistics of Agriculture sector in Himachal Pradesh:-

• As per 2011 Census, HP is the only state in the country whose 89.96% population lives in rural area,that itself convey dependency on Agriculture/Horticulture is high as it provides direct employment to about 62% of total workers of the state.
• About 10% of GSDP come from agriculture and its allied sector.
•        (GSDP:- Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is defined as a measure, in monetary terms, of the volume of all goods and services produced              within the boundaries of the State during a given period of time, accounted without duplication.)

 

The geographical area under agriculture and Landholding capacity of farmers:-

1. Total Geographical area of State = 55.67 Lakh hectares.
2. Area of operational holdings = 9.55 Lakh hectares.
3. The area operated by farmers=9.61 lakh farmers.
4. So,average holding  size = 1 hectare (approx).

 

According to the 2011 agriculture census:-

1. 87.95% of total holdings are of small and marginal farmers.
2.  About 11.71% per cent of holdings are owned by semi and medium farmers.
3. 0.34% by large farmers

 

Status of Land in HP:-

• 80 per cent (approx.) of the total cultivated area in the state is rainfed.

 

What is Rainfed Agriculture?

•  The term Rainfed agriculture is used to describe farming practices that rely on rainfall for water.

 

Monsoon Season 2018:-  As Agriculture mainly depend upon Monsoon Season.

• Himachal Pradesh has received 917.3 mm rainfall during South-West Monsoon 2018. The amount is 11 per cent higher than normal rainfall category of 825.3 mm. However, at the district level, there is considerable variation in the distribution of rainfall. Out of 12 districts in the state, rainfall departure has been in deficit in three districts namely Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahul & Spiti by 38 per cent, 32 per cent and 43 per cent respectively. All these three districts are in the upper part of Himalaya, the origin of many rivers & where mountains are mostly snow-covered.

 

 Main Crops:-

• Rice, Wheat and Maize are important cereal crops of the State.
• Groundnut, Soybean and Sunflower in Kharif and Rapeseed/ Mustard and Toria in the Rabi season are important oilseed crops.
• Urd, Bean, Moong, Rajmash in Kharif season and Gram Lentil in Rabi are the important pulse crops of the State.

 

Agro-climatic Zone of the state:-

• Sub Tropical, sub-mountain and low hills.
• Sub Temperate, Subhumid mid-hills.
• Wet Temperate high hills.
• Dry Temperate high hills and cold deserts.

 

• The Agro-climatic conditions in the State are best suited for the production of cash crops like seed potato, off-season vegetables and ginger.
• The State Government is laying emphasis on production of off-season vegetables, potato, ginger, pulses and oilseeds besides increasing production of cereal crops, through timely and adequate supply of inputs, demonstration and effective dissemination of improved farm technology, replacement of old variety seed, promoting integrated pest management, bringing more area under efficient use of water resources and implementation of Wasteland Development Projects

 

Among various initiatives by Govt. of HP, few are below:-

 

1) Plant Protection Programme:-

• During each season, campaigns are organised to fight the menace of crop disease, insects and pest etc. The Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes, IRDP families’ farmers of Backward Areas and small and marginal farmers are provided plant protection chemicals and equipment at 50 per cent cost.

 

2) Soil Testing Programme:-

• In order to maintain the fertility of the soil during each crop season, soil samples are collected from the farmers’ fields and analysed in the soil testing laboratories. Soil testing laboratories have been established in all the districts (except Lahaul and Spiti), whereas four mobile soil testing vans/labs out of which one exclusively for the tribal areas is in operation for testing the soil samples at the site.
• The State Government has also declared soil testing as public service under H.P. Public Service Guarantee Act, 2011.
• During 2017-18 a target of 50,000 grid soil samples has been fixed and about 48,038 soil health cards will be provided. Soil testing programme has been adopted as the Flagship programme by the Government

 

3) Organic Farming

• The State has diverse agro-climate conditions and due to its favourable positioning in the Himalayan region, has great scope for promotion of Organic farming. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the State is very low and 80% of the area is rainfed. The State Government formulated a Policy on Organic Farming in 2010 and has covered 30,110 farmers with an area of 17,848 ha under Organic farming. During the current financial year, 2000 hectare additional area is being covered under organic farming. During 2015-2016 200 Villages will be converted into complete Bio-Villages. During the current financial year, 20,000 Vermi-Compost Units with 50 per cent assistance will be set up.

 

4) Crop Insurance Scheme

• The State Government has introduced this scheme from Rabi, 1999-2000 season. Now Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna(PMFBY) has been launched in the state from Kharif, 2016 season as per the administrative approval and operational guidelines issued by the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.

 

5) Agriculture Marketing

• Himachal Pradesh Agricultural/ Horticulture Produce Marketing Act, 2005 has been enforced. Under the Act, Himachal Pradesh Marketing Board has been established at the State level. The whole of H.P. has been divided into ten notified market areas. Its main objective is to safeguard the interest of the farming community. The regulated markets established in different parts of the state are providing useful services to the farmers.
• Information on daily market rates is also disseminated through AIR/ DD.

 

HP 2019-20 Budget:-

• The allocation includes assured income support of Rs 6,000 per annum to farmers with landholdings of less than 2 hectares under the central “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi” scheme.
• CM announced cut on power tariff from 75 paise per unit to 50 paise for irrigation by the farmers and 50 per cent subsidy for barbed wire and solar power fitted chain link for protection of the crops against monkey menace in the state. Farmers will get a 50 per cent subsidy up to Rs 25,000 to buy desi cows. A new breeding farm for Sahiwal and Red Sindhi cows will be set up with a total cost of Rs 11.21 crore.
• To promote organic farming: Zero budget farming is a set of farming methods that involve zero credit for agriculture and no use of chemical fertilisers

 

What is Zero budget farming?

• Zero budget farming is a set of farming methods that involve zero credit for agriculture and no use of chemical fertilisers.

 

Question:- Agriculture being the major contributor to Himachal economy. Analyse.

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