Agriculture In Himachal Pradesh :
Agriculture accounts for 9.4% of the net state domestic product. It is the main source of income and employment in Himachal. About 90% of the population in Himachal depends directly upon agriculture, which provides direct employment to 62% of total workers of the state. The main cereals grown include wheat, maize, rice and barley with major cropping systems being maize-wheat, rice-wheat and maize-potato-wheat. Pulses, fruits, vegetables and oilseeds are among the other crops grown in the state. Centuries-old traditional Kuhl irrigation system is prevalent in the Kangra valley, though in recent years these Kuhls have come under threat from hydro projects on small streams in the valley. Land husbandry initiatives such as the Mid-Himalayan Watershed Development Project, which includes the Himachal Pradesh Reforestation Project (HPRP), the world's largest clean development mechanism (CDM) undertaking, have improved agricultural yields and productivity, and raised rural household incomes.
Apple is the principal cash crop of the state grown principally in the districts of Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba and some parts of Sirmaur and Lahaul-Spiti with an average annual production of five lakh tons and per hectare production of 8 to 10 tons. The apple cultivation constitutes 49 per cent of the total area under fruit crops and 85% of total fruit production in the state with an estimated economy of ₹3500 crore. Apples from Himachal are exported to other Indian states and even other countries. In 2011–12, the total area under apple cultivation was 104,000 hectares, an increase from 90,347 hectares in 2000–01. According to the provisional estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the annual apple production in Himachal for fiscal 2015–16 stood at 753,000 tons, making it India's second-largest apple-producing state after Jammu and Kashmir. The state is also among the leading producers of other fruits such as apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, plums and strawberries in India.
Kangra tea is grown in the Kangra valley. Tea plantation began in 1849, and production peaked in the late 19th century with tea becoming popular across the globe. Production dipped sharply after the 1905 Kangra earthquake and continues to decline. The tea received geographical indication status in 2005.
Himachal Pradesh, described by the ancients as “DevBhoomi” (Abode of the Gods), is situated in the heart of the Himalayas in the northern part of India. It has a geographical area of 55.67 lakh hectrares by professional surveys. Most of which is under forests, pastures and grazing lands. Less than ten per cent (5.6 lakh hectares) of the state’s net area is under cultivation. The state has a large range of mountains and valleys rising from 350 meters to 7000 meters above mean sea level. Its climate ranges from sub-tropical to sub-arctic cold with an annual rainfall of 350 millimeters to 3800 millimeters. Its temperatures vary from -25 C to 42 C. The state has snow fed parts. In addition, there are some natural lakes. The topography, soil, climate, rainfall and temperature provide the state with wide opportunities and potential for agriculture and horticulture.
Due to its hilly terrain, the economy of the state is predominantly mixed farming, agro-pastoral, silvi-pastoral and agro-horticultural. Most of the group based farming systems, engaging a majority of the farmers are found in the valleys of Yamuna, Satluj, Beas, Ravi, ChanderaBhaga and their tributaries. Agriculture accounts for over 30 per cent of the state’s net domestic product and provides employment to about 71 percent of its residents. The annual growth rate of the state during 1999-2000 was 5.8 per cent against India’s 6.4 per cent. Earlier, during the Eighth Plan the annual growth rate of the state was 6.3 per cent. The state enjoys the special category status and thus gets special funds from the center for its development activities.
Main Crops of Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh:
Agriculture contributes over 45% to the net state domestic product. It is the main source of income and employment in Himachal. Over 93% of the population in Himachal depend directly upon agriculture which provides direct employment to 71% of its people.
The entire population of the state more or less depends directly upon the Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh. The major portion of the revenue earned in the state’s economy is carried out by the cash crops in theAgriculture in Himachal Pradesh. The chief food crops cultivated in Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh include wheat, maize, rice, barley, seed-potato, ginger, vegetables, vegetable seeds, mushrooms, chicory seeds, hops, olives, and fig. Himachal Pradesh is also known as the ‘Apple State of India’ for its large-scale production of fruits. Farmers have engaged themselves highly in fruit cultivation and it is also a great blessing to the economy of the state. Some very important factors that have led to the outstanding development in Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh are an efficient irrigation system, accessibility of low-cost cargo, and marketing facilities structured in an organized form.
However Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh suffers from certain limitations, especially in the production of food grains. One of the reasons is that the area under cultivation cannot be extended to any appreciable extent. Reclamation of land on slopes of hills for cultivation of food grains is neither economical nor beneficial. The farmers can profit more by raising cash crops suited to the agro-climatic conditions. Another reason is that reclamation of land from the hills increases the menace of soil erosion.
Terrace Farming of Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh
The main cereals grown are wheat, maize, rice and barley. Kangra, Mandi district and to some extent Paonta valley of Sirmur district are the major producers of the 1st three cereals, while barley is mostly grown in Shimla district. Although the state is deficit in food grains it has gained tremendously in other spheres of agricultural production such as seed-potato, ginger, vegetables, vegetable seeds, mushrooms, chicory seeds, hops, olives and fig especially vegetables and seed potato which is disease free and good quality are providing a good source of income to the farmers. Seed-potato is mostly grown in Shimla, Kullu and Lahaul areas.