Horticultural and Forestry Development and Extension Center

Even as staff shortage continues to plague Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, it has not deterred the management from opening new centres. In the latest move, a regional horticultural and forestry development and extension centre has been sanctioned for Thunag in the Chief Minister’s home turf in Mandi district.

• The move to open such centres was not new as in the past too new centres have been opened in the home turfs of the serving CMs at Rohru and Neri, unmindful of the financial burden they accrue on the fund-starved university.
• Staff comprising two scientists and support staff has been directed to go the centre once it gets functional. Two visiting scientists have also been attached with the centre. It will start functioning from the Panchayati Raj building located at Thunag and additional scientists with be posted in the near future stated a university press note here.
• When asked about the staff shortage, Vice-Chancellor Dr HC Sharma said the university faced a shortage of about 55 to 60 scientists and about 150 other support staff and efforts were on to get sanction for filling some posts from the state government.
• The university was already short of staff for teaching and research activities and transferring scientists to this new centre would not augur well for the students studying here. While an elaborate agenda, which will be the focus of the centre, has been drawn up by the university, it remains to be seen how productive it will prove in solving the woes of the agrarian community. Issues like training youth in various agrarian ventures and undertaking extension and training activities about the latest technologies were some of its focus areas.
• The opening of the Center is a big achievement for the university. It will enable us to expand our reach and the farmers will benefit from the latest technologies in Horticulture and Forestry.

Schemes Related to Horticulture/ Agriculture Production in State 

Soil Testing Centres

Soil testing has great importance for raising agriculture production. The department is providing free soil testing facilities to the farmers. Department has 11 Soil Testing Laboratories besides seven mobile soil testing labs to provide free soil testing facilities to the farmers. The Government of India has launched a new scheme based on which the sample of soil shall be drawn on GPS basis. About 50,000 samples are analysed annually. Besides this, Soil Health Cards are being provided to the farmers.Soil testing service has also being included under H.P. Govt. Public Service Act, 2011 in which the soil health cards are being made available to the farmers through online service within prescribed time limit. To provide self-employment opportunities to youth, State Government has started a new scheme to establish Soil Testing Laboratories. Under this scheme, the Government will provide 40 % subsidy up to maximum project cost of Rs.25 lakh for establishment of such laboratories.

Plant Protection:

The Department exercises vigil on pest situation. To overcome this, about 150MT of pesticides through sale centres are supplied to the farmers. Besides this, Pesticide Testing Laboratory at
Shimla has been set up with a capacity of 150 to 250 samples per year.

Development of Seed Potato

The Department owns 12 Potato Development Stations where foundation seed potato is produced. Due to “Seed Plot Technique” in the plains, the Potatoes of plains are causing tough competition in marketing of seed Potato from H.P. Therefore, a policy has been devised to diversify the area under Potato towards cash crop. Market maximum potato as table and produce only that much seed potato which can easily be marketed outside the State.

Development of Vegetables Including Farms:

Himachal Pradesh gained reputation for the cultivation of off-season vegetables and production of quality vegetable seeds. There is a great demand of offseason vegetables in the plains.The ongoing programme i.e.cultivation of off-season vegetables and production of vegetable seeds is proposed to be strengthened and organized on an extensive scale for providing higher income and employment. The suitable areas in the State
for the purpose of vegetable cultivation would be intensively surveyed and identified and the farmers in the newly identified areas would be encouraged to take up these  programme, demonstration on vegetables cultivation are done for the small and marginal farmers in these areas, so that the farm income of these rural poor can be improved and country can be supplied with the vegetables in off-season. Annually about 16.0 lakh tonne vegetables are produced and marketed within and outside the State. For production of disease free ginger, the Department is providing training, demonstrations and quality seed. About 35,000 tonnes of green ginger is produced annually which is marketed within the State and in the neighbouring States.
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HP Crop Diversification Promotion Project (JICA  Loan Project)

To encourage crop diversification in Himachal Pradesh a project in collaboration with Japan International Cooperative agency (JICA) has been started since June, 2011. The project area comprises 5 districts Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Una. The project period is 7 years i.e. 2011 to March, 2018 and the total project cost\ is Rs. 321 Crores (Loan Rs. 266 crores and State share Rs. 55 Crores).

Mukhya Mantri Kisaan Evam Khetihar Mazdoor Jeevan Suraksha Yojna

With a view to provide Insurance cover to the Farmers and Agricultural Labourers in the event of sustaining injury or death due to operation of farm machinery, the State Government has launched a Scheme called; ‘Mukhyamantra Kisaan evam Khetihar MazdoorJeevan Surakhsha Yojna in 2015-16. In case of the death and
permanent disability, a compensation of Rs.1.5 Lakh and in case of partial disabilities, compensation up to Rs.50,000 will be provided to the affected. A provision of Rs. 40.00 lakhs has been kept for 2017-18.
Scope of the Scheme This Scheme is to provide compensation to the farmers and agricultural labourers
in the event of sustaining injury or death during the operation of farm machinery. Farm machinery for this purpose include Tractors registered for Agricultural purpose, Power Tillers, Weeders, Power plough, Reaper cum Binder, Power Thresher, Chaffcutters, implements, tools, equipments installation & operation of tube well/bore well/pumping sets, low lifts.

Uttam Chaara Utpadan Yojna

With a view to increase fodder production in the State, The State Government has launched a scheme; ‘Uttam Chaara Utpadan Yojana’ for fodder development by bringing area under fodder production. Quality Seed of Fodder Grasses, Cuttings, Seedlings of Improved Fodder Varieties will be supplied on subsidised rates to the
farmers. Chaff Cutters are important input for farmers. Subsidy on Chaff Cutters is
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 39,440 farmers with an area of 21,603 ha under Organic farming. During current financial year 2,000 hectare additional area is being covered under organic farming. During current financial year 20,000 Vermi-Compost Units with 50 per cent assistance will be set up. This year Government will develop 200 bio-villages. To promote organic farming in the State, the Government has started Mukhya Mantri
Jaivik Kheti Puraskar Yojna from this year.

Mukhya Mantri Khet Sanrakshan Yojna

Monkey and wild life menace causes huge loss to crops annually. Present practice of crop protection by manual guarding does not ensure 100 percent crop. Therefore, Government of Himachal Pradesh has introduced a new scheme “Mukhya Mantri Khet Sanrakhshan Yojna”. Under this scheme the Government has enhanced the subsidy from existing 60% to 80% from this year. The farmer will be given option for
installation of solar fencing by themselves provided that the technical specifications are full filled. The fence will be energized with the help of solar power or electricity. Current in the fence around the farms will be sufficient to keep away the stray animals, wild animals and monkeys from the farms. A budget provision of Rs. 30.00 Crore has been kept for 2017-18. This scheme is being executed through experienced 5 empanelled firms and department has approved costs per running meter for Regular Electric powered and Solar Electric Powered fencing.
Mukhya Mantri Green House Renovation Scheme

Farmers of the state have demanded that there should be a scheme to replace the Poly sheets. Therefore, the Government of Himachal Pradesh has
introduced a new scheme MukhyaMantri Green House Renovation Scheme. Under this scheme, 50 %  subsidy will be provided to the farmers for the replacement of poly sheet after 5 years of setting up of polyhouse or damage due to natural calamities. A budget provision of 3.0 crore has been kept for the year 2017-18.

By: Pooja Sharda