Agriculture in himachal pradesh is a way of life for agrarian population. It is the backbone of state economy and the main stay of livelihood of people in the state. Agriculture and allied sector contributes nearly 20% of the total state domestic product. This sector of economy has experienced an upward swing in its growth in recent past with active support of the state government, with improved scientific technologies adopted by farmers, as it is a major source of income of the people. As per the statistics available, the sector alone has provided direct employment to around 70 % working population of the state. About 90% rural population has agriculture as its main occupation thus assumes special significance in the growth and development of the economy of the state.
Presently, farming and farmers of himachal pradesh are passing through a transitional phase, comprising of several factors, and processes, which include both constraints and opportunities. The integrated farming is the strength of the state like himachal pradesh. Agriculture- animal husbandry is complementary and supplementary enterprises which provide livelihood to agrarian population on the one hand and reduce dependence on the synthetic external inputs on the other. Thus, the need of the hour is to frame agricultural policy in a way to ensure better management of animals, grasslands, farmyard manure which hold promise for promotion of organic farming in the state.
Diversification in agriculture and its allied activities : Agriculture being the backbone of state economy, efforts are required to diversify agriculture activities more in rural areas to increase production and productivity through better management and improvements of inputs , transfer of appropriate technology and managerial skills and practises. In order to boost the agricultural development and enhance the farm income in the rural areas, it is therefore important to increase the productivity of the existing cultivated area, through shifting from self-subsistence crop cultivation to diversified agriculture, by adopting cash crops such as vegetables cultivation suitable in hilly and highland areas. For such accomplishment, overcoming the major constraints, such as shortage of irrigation facilities, farm roads and insufficient marketing facilities is highly essential.
The divergent favourable climatic conditions can facilitate diversified land use system in himachal pradrsh. Since farm income supports fewer family member in the state, diversification can help families to undergo farming successfully. In addition to agriculture, the land may be utilised for horticulture, forestry, vegetables. The diversification areas that can be looked in the state are following :
Cultivating pulses and oil seeds : In himachal pradesh wheat, maize and rice are the dominating crops and the pulse production has decreased considerably in the past. Pulse prices are elevating high, there for by focusing on pulses cannot only increase the pulse production but also soil fertility and decrease the nitrogen fertlizer requirement thereby decreasing the cost of cultivation of next crop.
vegetable and fruit cultivation : fruit and vegetables considered as high values crops have registered an increase share in agricultural commodity market of the country. These commodities are considered as engine of agricultural growth in the country. The adoption of fruit and vegetable culturing will uplift the livelihood of himachal pradesh. Taking the advantage of climatic conditions and access to market, farmers can diversify themselves by adopting fruit and vegetables, specially demand of off season vegetables from hp arises can grow in their farm lands. studies have shown that farmers can harvest 10 times more profit by intensive vegetable cultivation than ceral crops:
Cash crops : diversification is being increasingly used in the high value cash crops. Himachal pradesh has such a congenial environment that the cultivation of cash crop will be a boon. cash crops like potatos, ginger, garlic, cabbage , cauliflower, pea and offseason vegetables can be taken by the farmers. The cultivation of these crops can make a significant impact on levels of house hold income and employment
Value added processing : with jobs in agriculture rapidally decreasing in rural areas of the state, employment possibilities in the agri. food processing may be attractive to agriculture persons that look for employment outside the shrinking primary production and could serve as both an alternative and additional income source.
Organic agricultural tourism : the expansion of tourism to rural home stays by involving villagers an by showing off their agri farming to promote cultivation of high value medicinal and aromatic plants , orchids and flowers like roses etc. to tourists can make villages attractive tourist destinations
silk rearing : silk rearing has been practiced traditionally in the state but in a disorganised way, without proper technological inputs, and inadequate forward and backword linkages, resulting in a low return to farmers. , so by enhancing above factors in silk rearing state can lift poor sections of the society which is mainly involves in this activity.
animal husbandry : It has a great scope in state due to large area under forest , pasture, grasslands, grazing lands. adequate insemination techniques, improved breeds, cross breeding can boost the milk production and live stock.
Market : apart from satisfying the need of family the agricultural produce should be market worthy with regard to quantity and quality. Marketing is probably the most important consideration when contemplating new crops. Since the state is near to country capital so, himachal pradesh can attract largest consumer market of the country. Hence measures can be taken to improve the grain production.
Conclusion
On the whole, Himachal Model of agricultural transformation throws up two important messages. First, the incorporation of regional specificities in development strategy coupled with committed state intervention in creating favourable conditions for triggering the process of agricultural transformation through crop diversification. Second, harnessing of regional diversities and local micro climate niches through diversified cropping systems promotes inter-ecosystems and inter-regional resource flows causing a variety of favourable impacts through a host of forward and backward linkages. These resource flows and linkages not only impart economic and ecological resilience to the process of agricultural transformation but also create huge employment and income opportunities for people at different levels. At the regional level, agricultural transformation in the state has developed two way mutually beneficial relationships with neighbouring states. For example, while the neighbouring states contributes towards sustaining the process of crop diversification in the state by providing ever expanding demand for fruits and vegetable, the state in turn is a huge source of demand for products produced in the non-farm sector of the neighbouring states.