An agrarian revolution of sorts is sweeping the hills of Himachal Pradesh. It seems to be riding the crest of a number of schemes, including the all-embracing Rs 353-crore Pt. Deen Dayal Kisan-Bagwan Samridhi Yojna, launched by the state government in the last two years. These aim at boosting agricultural production and productivity, making farming an attractively diversified and remunerative proposition, and rewriting the lifestyle of farmers and growers.

Resultantly, agriculture in Himachal today stands modernized and well diversified; more stretches of arable land have been brought under the ambit of assured irrigation; and more crops have been insured. More importantly, the farmers of Himachal who now have more baskets to earn from, feel contented and reassured, their economic condition having vastly improved.

Determined to uplift the socio-economic standing of the farmers and give crop diversification a decisive and incentivised push, the Prem Kumar Dhumal Government has scripted and launched the ambitious Rs.353-crore Pt. Deen Dayal Kisan-Bagwan Samridhi Yojna. Besides, the government has, in collaboration with Japan, chalked out Rs 267-crore master plan for crop diversification which would be financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The canopy Samridhi Yojna seeks to address what all plagues the agricultural sector, and give the farmers the much-needed support system by providing them with alternatives and perennial sources of income. With about 70 per cent people of Himachal, more than 90 per cent in the rural areas, directly dependent on it, agriculture remains the mainstay of the state‘s economy. Agriculture and allied sectors account for 20 per cent of the State Domestic Product.

Under the scheme, farmers are being provided 80 per cent subsidy for the construction of poly-houses and micro irrigation schemes. The government is also providing 50 per cent subsidy to them for the construction of irrigation sources. State and district plans have been prepared for the first time for planned development of the agricultural sector.

Phase one of the scheme has set the target of setting up 16,500 poly-houses for growing off-season vegetables and horticultural crops; 12,320 sprinklers and 650 water tanks over the next three years. Subsidy to the tune of 80 per cent is provided for the construction of poly houses and 50 per cent on the construction of water tanks. Out of the 2,793 poly houses sanctioned, 404 have been completed, and 553 farmers, 117 masons / artisans and 351 agriculture officers have been trained in poly house technology.

With a view to ensuring irrigational facilities, the Rs 198-crore Phase-II of the Samridhi Yojna has been launched with focus on micro irrigation schemes. The target is to bring 20,000 hectares under assured irrigation by installing 17,312 micro and drip irrigation units during the project period of three years for which 80 per cent subsidy is provided.

As many as 16,020 water sources units, including water tanks, bore wells and pumping sets etc, are to be constructed for which 50 per cent financial assistance will be provided to the farmers.

Giving direct financial relief to the farmers, the state government has exempted them from paying stamp duty on land mortgage deeds up to Rs 10 lakh and waived off  recovery under the Taccavi Loan and ‘loan for soil conservation/ land development’ pertaining to the period 1950-1960. This will benefit 43,485 small and marginal farmers to the tune of Rs. 4.95 crore.

With a view to modernizing farming and allied operations, the “Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana” has been launched under which Rs. 27.08 crore have been spent. Another Rs.574.30 lakh has been spent on the extension and transfer of technology.

Injecting a dose of incentives into modernized farming, the state government is giving a subsidy of Rs.25,000 on the purchase of power tiller below eight horse power and Rs.45,000 for one above eight horse power. The subsidy on tractors up to 40 horse power has been increased from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 45000. As many as 469 tractors and 84 power tillers have been provided to farmers at subsidized rates during the last two years by providing Rs 231.38 lakh as subsidy.

Stonewalling the farmers from the vagaries of weather, the ginger crop in Sirmaur District has been brought under crop insurance scheme from Kharif 2008, and the subsidy on insurance premium has been increased from 10 per cent to 50 per cent. The tomato crop in Solan District has been brought under weather-based Crop Insurance Scheme on a pilot basis. Besides, the potato crop of  Kangra and Una districts, has also been brought under the crop insurance scheme on a pilot basis. What’s more, to compensate the farmers for the losses due to drought-like situation during Kharif, 50 per cent subsidy is being provided on seeds. A sum of Rs 11 crore has been spent on it.