Not to be Published/Broadcast
before
6 July,2009
A silent green revolution is sweeping in
Himachal Pradesh following several
significant strides taking place in
Agriculture Sector during last one
and a half years. The bold
initiatives envisaging faster and
more inclusive growth in agriculture
sector are bound to bring a sea
change in the economic condition of
the farmers in years to come. The
most notable being the Pt. Deen
Dayal Kisan-Bagwan Samridhi Yojna,
which is set to give a new direction
and dimension to agrarian economy of
the State.
The Rs. 353 crore Pt. Deen Dayal Kisan- Bagwan
Samridhi Yojna, being implemented in
a time bound manner, has two
components. Whereas, the Rs. 154.92
crore Part I of the project lays
emphasis on production of cash crops
by adopting Precision Farming
Practices through Polyhouse
cultivation, the Rs. 198.09 crore
Part II of the project provides for
Diversification of Agriculture
through Micro-irrigation and other
related infrastructure.
Under the Part-I of the project, 16500
polyhouses and 12320 sprinklers
would be installed covering an area
of 14.70 lakh square meters. The
farmers are getting 80% subsidy
under these programmes. As many as
2650 tanks and wells would also be
constructed under this project for
which 50 per cent subsidy is being
provided to the farmers. This
project will generate employment to
more than 10,000 people besides
increasing vegetable production by
four to ten times.
The project is under implementation since
January, 2009 and so far 929
polyhouses have been sanctioned. Out
of these, work has started on 219
polyhouses. Training modules for
imparting training to farmers,
masons, artisans and officers
engaged in implementation of the
project have been drawn and 407
farmers, 117 masons/artisans and 351
agriculture officers have been
trained in polyhouse technology till
date.
Under the part-II of the Scheme, started in
June this year, 20,000 hectare area
would be brought under
sprinkler/drip irrigation schemes.
As many as 17312 Mirco Irrigation
Units would be installed and farmers
are being given 80 percent subsidy
for this. Besides, 16020 water
resource units would be installed
under the scheme for which 50 per
cent financial assistance would be
available to the farmers.
To expedite benefits to the farmers under the
Scheme, a time frame has been drawn
for disposal of applications at
various levels in the Agriculture
Department. The process has to be
completed within 25 days. The
Subject Matter Specialist of the
concerned Block will visit the site
and verify the feasibility of the
viability of the scheme within 10
days of the submission of
application form by the farmer and
will submit recommendation to the
District Nodal Officer (DNO) in
another five days. The DNO will
issue authorization to the
beneficiary, after scrutinising the
application, within 10 days from its
receipt.
Production depends much on the soil. For
setting up of polyhouse, testing of
soil has been made as an integral
part of the scheme. On the basis of
soil test values, Soil Health Card
would be issued to each polyhouse
grower with suitable recommendations
about management of nutrition and
biological properties of soil, which
would be of immense benefit to the
farmers.
The farmers are being encouraged to set up
vermi compost units at their farms
and are being given vermi culture
free of cost besides technical
guidance for setting up such units.
As many as 19 experienced companies
have been empanelled to provide
expertise to the farmers for
construction of polyhouses,
installation of micro irrigation
systems and supply of cladding
materials. For construction of
polyhouses local material such as
bamboo and wood is being used.
Besides being a part of the Pt. Deen Dayal
Kisan-Bagwan Samridhi Yojna, soil
testing and vermi composting are
being encouraged in general also.
Free soil testing facilities are
being provided to the farmers of the
State at their door steps. During
the last one and a half years
1,47,335 soil samples have been
tested and 1,31,085 Soil Health
Cards have been distributed amongst
the farmers. Over 1.25 lakh soil
samples would be tested during this
financial year. All the farmers will
be provided Soil Health Cards by the
end of 11th Plan.
Government is promoting organic farming in a
systematic manner. Vermi compost
units are being encouraged to ward
off the biotic pressure due to pest
and diseases and also to keep the
soil healthy. During the last one
and a half years 217565 vermi
compost unit have been established
and 3000 farmers have been
registered for organic farming. As
many as 1.6 lakh vermi compost units
would be established during the
current financial year.
Himachal Pradesh Government is giving high
priority to Agriculture and
Horticulture development in the
State. Given the immense inputs
being made by the State Government
in Agriculture and Horticulture
sectors, farming community sees a
prosperous future.
