3)
WORK PLAN FOR ACCELERATED GROWTH OF AGRICULTURE:
The Government of India has launched
this programme during the year 2000-2001 on 90% Centre
share and 10% State share basis. In this, States have
to identify this constraints and purpose schemes for
funding through Work Plan. Flexibility has also been
given to State Level Coordination Committee to make
changes in allocation, if required from one scheme
to other. For the year 2009-2010, Work Plan of Rs.1353.33
lacs has been prepared and approved by Government
of India.
4)
PROMOTION AND STRENGTHENING OF AGRICULTURAL MECHNIZATION
THROUGH TRAINING, TESTING AND DEMONSTRATION:
This scheme was launched in the
year 2003-2004. Under this scheme, the demonstrations
of newly developed Agricultural Equipments are being
conducted in the farmer's field every year. During
2009-2010 a sum of Rs.12.07 lacs was released by the
Government of India for conducting demonstrations
of newly developed agricultural equipmentslike rotavator,
multicrop planter, zero till seed-cum-fertilizer drill,
power tiller operated till plant machine, self propelled
reaper, vegetable transplanter, manual seed drill
and grain cleaner etc., which have been utilized for
these activities.The proposal under this scheme amounting
to Rs.46.00 lacs has been sent for the year 2010-2011
but the administrative approval/ financial sanction
is awaited from the Government of India.
5)
RESTRUCTURED SCHEME FOR DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHENING
OF INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES FOR PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION
OF QUALITY SEEDS: Under this scheme
the Department of Agriculture started strengthening
of Seed Testing Laboratories, Palampur, Solan and
a new Seed Testing Laboratory at Mandi is being setup.
6)
SEED VILLAGE PROGRAMME: Major
constraint in increasing production and productivity
of crops noted is the lack of sufficient quantities
of quality seed of improved varirties to be made available
to the farmers in time. To overcome this constraint,
Government of India has started a noval programme
known as "Seed Village Programme" by which
sufficient seed multiplication can be achieved in
order to meet local seed requirement besides facilitating
supply of seeds at reasonable cost and ensuring quick
multiplication of new varieties in a shorter time.
Under this programme, areas of better seed production
will be identified and a compact area approach will
be followed. 50 to 150 suitable responding/ willing
farmers for the same crops will be identified/ selected
preferably in compact area/ cluster approach. Foundation/
certified seed at 50% cost will be made available
to these identified farmers. The seeds for half an
acre per farmer will be allowed. Training on seed
production and seed technology will be imparted to
the idetified farmers for the seed crops grown in
the seed villages. Besides this, assistance @ 33%
on seed storage bins of 2.1quintal capacity is also
available.
7)
RASHTRIYA KRISHI VIKAS YOJNA (R.K.V.Y): Concerned
by the slow growth in Agriculture and allied sectors,
the Government of India has launched Rashtriya Krishi
Vikas Yojna (RKVY) during 2007-2008. The RKVY aims
at achieving 4% annual growth in the agriculture sector
during the XIth Plan period, by ensuring a holistic
development of agriculture and allied sectors. The
main objectives of the scheme are as under;
(i) To incentivise the states as so
as to increase public investment in agriculture and
allied sectors.
(ii) To provides flexibility and autonomy
to states in the process of planning and executing
agriculture and allied sector schemes.
(iii) To ensure the preparation of agriculture
plans for the districts and the states based on agro-climatic
conditions, availability of technology and natural
resources.
(iv) To maximize returns to the farmers
in agriculture and allied sectors.
(v) To bring about quantifiable changes
in the production and productivity of various components
in agriculture and allied sectors by addressing them
in a holistic manner.
This scheme had been launched during
the year 2007-2008. During the year 2009-2010, asum
of Rs.3,303 lacs was released to the State out of
which expenditure to the tune of Rs.3264.28 lacs has
been made by all the stakeholder Departments. For
the year 2010-2011, an allocation of Rs.94.85 crores
has been received from the Government of India.
8) KISAN
CALL CENTER: Under this scheme,
farmers can get any information on agriculture by
dailing toll free number 1800-180-1551 or 1551. The
service is available from 6.00 A.M. to 10.00 P.M.
on all days.
9)
FARM WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: The Department
of Agriculture has taken up Farm Women Empowerment
Programme in a big way in 73 blocks of the State covering
11,800 women farmers. 8 women groups have been constituted
in each block. The objectives of the programme are;
assessment of needs of women farmers, prioritization
of activities, providing package of technical training
to women farmers in agriculture and allied areas,
to provide organisation and funational support to
women groups to make them Self Help Thrift Groups,
to develop their managerial, organizational, entrepreneurial
and decision making skills so as to enable them to
develop them into a viable unit to start their own
economic activities. These women groups are also being
exposed to various parts of the State and Country.
Now, the Government closed this scheme in December,
2005 and new concept of Gender Budgeting is introduced
by the Government from the financial year 2006-2007
under which 30% of the budget is to be spent on Women
specific programmes.
10)
SUPPORT TO STATE EXTENSION PROGRAMMES FOR EXTENSION
REFORMS: This programme is a major
initiative towards revitalizing agricultural extension
to make the extension system decentralized and demand
driven. The scheme has been conceptualized on the
basis of the policy framework for agricultural extension
and experiences with the innovations in the technology
dissemination component of the National Technology
Project implemented in the 7 States including Himachal
Pradesh. Following key reforms are being promoted
under the scheme;
(i) Providing innovative restructured autonomous bodies
at the district level (ATMA) and at block level (FAC,
BTT), which are flexible, promote bottom up and participatory
approachs, are farmer driven and facilitate public-private
partnership.
(ii) Convergence of line departments programmes and
operating on gap filling mode by formulating SREP
and Annual Work Plans.
(iii) Encouraging Multi-agency Extension Strategies
involving inter-alia public/ private extension service
providers.
(iv) Moving towards integrated, broad-based extension
delivery in the line with farming systems approach.
(v) Adopting Group approach to extension (operating
through FIGs & SHGs).
(vi) Addressing gender concerns (mobilizing farm women
into groups, capacity building etc.)
(vii) Moving towards sustainability of extension services
(e.g. through beneficiary contribution).
During 2007-2008, an expenditure of Rs.414.17 lacs
has been incurred against approved outlay of Rs.414.17
lacs and proposed outlay for 2008-2009 is Rs.441.67
lacs including 10% State Share. This scheme has been
extended to all the 12 Districts of the State. The
approved outlay for 2009-2010 is Rs.800 lacs.
11)
MASS MEDIA SUPPORT TO AGRICULTURE EXTENSION:
The primary objective of the scheme is to use television
and radio with their massive penetration, as a vehicle
for agricultural extension. Basically, the scheme
is focusing on two initiatives;
(a) Doordarshan: The
first is use of Doordarshan for infrastructure for
providing agricultural related information and knowledge
to farming community. It has two components (i) Narrowcasting
using high/ low transmitters of Doordarshan (ii) Regional
and National Agricultural Programmes in terrestrial
mode of transmission. Presently, Doordarshan Shimla
is telecasting Krishi Darshan Programme between 6.00
P.M. to 6.30 P.M. five days in a week.
(b) All India Radio:
This component of scheme envisages use of FM transmitters
of AIR to broadcast area specific agricultural programmes
with 30 minutes radio transmission six days a week.
Presently, half an hour, Krishivani programme is being
broadcasted, six days a week from FM Dharamshala and
Hamirpur.
12)
NATIONAL PROJECT ON ORGANIC FARMING:
Organic agriculture on one hand, is expected to provide
sustainability, while on other hand, it will help
in increasing the income of the farmers. Government
of India has launched a National Project on Agriculture
in order to promote organic farming. Under this project,
financial assistance is being provided for setting
up of Model Farms, training of farmers, setting up
of wormi hatchries and service proveders. For 2008-2009,
Government of India has released Rs.38.05 lacs. The
proposed outlay for the year 2009-2010 is Rs.133.00
lacs. For promoting organic farming further a project
has been taken up in Shimla District in collaboration
with Morarka Foundation and District Rural Development
Agency, Shimla. Under the scheme, 48 clusters consisting
of 5800 farmers have been registered. The Department
of Agriculture is providing assistance @ Rs.1500 per
farmer. This assistance would be provided in three
years for documentation, data base management, training
and capacity building, organic certification, linkage
and value addition. Besides this, training of farmers
regarding organic farming is also organised. One Cert
Asia Agriulture Certification Pvt. Ltd., Jaipur has
been engaged for the certification of organic produce.
After the certification, this company will explore
the market for this produce by making agreement with
the interested companies. This programme of organic
farming promotion has also been extended to other
districts by involving local NGOs/ KVKs in the districts
for promotion of organic farming and registration
of farmers. Upto 2008-2009, 5240 additonal farmers
have been registed under organic farming through NGO's.
During 2009-2010 a target of 4,000 farmers have been
fixed to register under Organic farming.
