Agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Himachal Pradesh and about 70 percent population of the state is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. It has an important place in the economy of the state and is contributing 20 per cent of the total State Gross Domestic Product.

State Government has accorded top priority to this sector. During last two years a number of schemes have been implemented in the State and the farmers have been benefited at large by these schemes. To improve the economy of the farmers, State Government has recently launched a Rs.353 crore ambitious ' Pt. Deendayal Kisan Baagwan Smridhi Yojna in the State. It would bring a sea change in the economy of the farmers by way of crop diversification and by providing better infrastructure facilities.

Sh. Balwant Ram, a farmer from Takrla village of Amb development Block in Una District who has availed benefits under this scheme is a happy man today because his earning has improved significantly after he started using sprinklers to irrigate his land.

Sh.  Balwant Ram has been doing traditional farming in his 35 Kanal land but despite hard work he was not getting good return. One day he attended an awareness camp organized by the State Agriculture Department in his Block. He got detailed information about this Scheme and was motivated to adopt the scheme. He applied for the Sprinkler under the Scheme, which was approved immediately with 80 per cent subsidy and he set up 9 Sprinklers.

By adopting new technique in his field, the production graph of his agriculture produce increased remarkably. He is getting better return for his produce and now he is known as progressive farmer of the area.

By the concerted efforts being put in by the State Government, the farming practices have been modernized and diversified. More and more agricultural land is being brought under irrigation in the area, which has resulted in more production. Now the farmers are earning enough .

Through ambitious 'Pt. Deendayal Kisan Bagwan Smridhi Yojna', the farmers of the State have alternate source of earning throughout the year. Under this scheme, State Government is providing 80 per cent subsidy for construction of Polyhouse and micro irrigation schemes. The State Government is also providing 50 per cent subsidy to the farmer for creation of irrigation sources. 90 percent subsidy is being provided to BPL families to construct bamboo polyhouses. It is for the first time that planned development of agriculture sector has been ensured.

A target of bringing 20,000 hectare area under irrigation by installing 17,312 micro irrigation units during a period of three years has been fixed under the scheme. As many as 16,020 water source units would be constructed under the scheme for which 50 per cent financial assistance is being given to the farmers which includes water tanks, bore wells and pumping sets.

Sh. Balwant Ram sees for himself better future now. He also advises other farmers of the area to adopt the facilities being provided under the scheme. He is not only a single farmer in the State who has been benefited from this scheme but many others availing the benefit of the scheme are also happy that there has been a tremendous change in their economic conditions by adopting the diversified farming under this scheme.