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 2008-2009, Work Plan of Rs.1263.25
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. During2007-2008,
a sum of Rs.10.00 lacs has been released by the Government
of India for conducting 858 No's 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 incurred for
these activities.The outlay under this scheme amounting
to Rs.22.00 lacs has been proposed for the year 2008-2009.
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
established a new Seed Testing Laboratory at Mandi,
beside this four training camps for creating awarness
amongst the farmers for the implementation of Seed
Control Order, 1983 were organised.
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 schemes has been comensed during
the year 2007-2008 and an amount of Rs.8.82 crores
has been spent by Agriculture Department against the
outlay of Rs.8.85 crores. During the financial year
2008-2009, an amount of Rs.16.29 crores has been proposed
under this scheme.
8) KISAN
CALL CENTER: Under this scheme,
farmers can get any information on agriculture by
dailing toll free number 1551. The service is available
from 6.00 A.M. to 10.00 P.M. on all working 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.
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 and demonstration
units. For 2006-2007, Government of India has released
Rs.25.90 lacs against which the expenditure amounting
to Rs.10.90 lacs have been incurred. During the year
2007-2008, an amount of Rs.45.58 lacs including previous
years unspent balance amounting to Rs.15.00 lacs have
been incurred. The proposed outlay for the year 2008-2009
is Rs.66.39 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 been extended to other districts
by involving local NGOs/ KVKs in the districts for
promotion of organic farming and registration of farmers.
During 2008-2009, 10 cluster consisting of 2,000 farmers
are to be registered and 1,600 farmers would be certified.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
1)
Tea Plantation:
Management
of tea factories and tea gardens.
2)
Food Processing:
Maize
is are important crop where surplus is available for
processing.
3)
Seed Production:
The temperate climate of the State is quite Suitable
for production of disease free seed. The Government
is encouraging private sector participation for exploitation
of vast seed production potential.Processing industries
of Ginger, Potato and Vegetables in valley areas has
a great scope.
