HP govt to promote organic farming

Shimla, June 13: To give a boost to organic farming, the Himachal Pradesh government has launched a Rs 12.70 lakh training project for the farmers.

A proposal with a total outlay of Rs 32 lakh has been submitted to the central government for approval. This fund would be utilised for promoting organic farming in the hill state.

According to a spokesman of the agriculture department, a project on organic farming in Shimla district has been approved for which 5000 farmers have been registered. A new bio-control laboratory will also be set up soon at Mandi with financial outlay of Rs 70 lakh. Certification agencies like ONECERT and SGS will be approached by the state government for certifying the organic produce to be sold in the state.

Referring to crop diversification, the spokesman said that area under off season vegetables, which was 35,220 hecatres in March 2003 has now increased to 47,000 hectares. Similarly, the production of vegetables which was 6.21 lakh metric tonnes has now increased to 9 lakh metric tonnes.

The increase in vegetable production in the last three years has generated additional revenue of Rs 175 crore for the farmers.

The agriculture department is promoting crop diversification in potential areas through trainings and demonstrations, area expansion, pest management and project approach. The department has proposed to cover 50,000 hectare area with a production of ten lakh MT of vegetables by the end of tenth five year plan, which will generate revenue of Rs 600 crore annually for the farmers.

The government has also adopted an extensive credit plan through issuance of Kisan Credit Cards to the farmers. Out of 8.63 lakh farmers, 4.50 lakh farmers have been provided soil health cards. In the next 3-4 years, all farmers shall be provided soil health cards.

The spokesman said that to improve and extend agricultural activities in the state, a number of centrally sponsored schemes are being implemented. For extension and transfer of technology, a new programme of extension reforms has also been started under which seven districts have been taken up. Under the Extension Reform Programme, seven districts have been covered, out of which four Shimla, Hamirpur, Kangra and Bilaspur districts are already covered under the National Agriculture Technology project. Three new districts of Kullu, Mandi and Una have been added to the programme.

For the last fiscal year, the approved outlay under the extension programme was Rs 171.27 lakh against which total amount received as central share was Rs 122 lakh. This programme is being run on society mode in each district, with Agriculture Technolgy Management Agency (ATMA) monitoring the scheme. Besides agriculture, other departments like horticulture, animal husbandary, fisheries and universities are also participating in this programme.

Under the programme, block level technolgy teams and farmers advisory committees have been constituted besides Self-Help Groups have also been constituted.

The spokesman said that to strengthen the agricultural activities in the state, another centrally sponsored scheme, Macro Management of Agriculture through Work Plan has been implemented.

Under this scheme, the approved outlay this year is Rs 2,267 lakh including state share of Rs 227 lakh. The central government has released fifty per cent of its share under this scheme.

Under Programme and Strenghtening of Agriculture Mechanisation scheme, Rs 6.49 lakh had been provided during 2005-06 and 250 demonstrations had been laid out for farmers like self propelled reapers, vegetable transplants, multi crop plants , power tillers, raised bed plants etc. For this financial year, a proposal of Rs 4.50 lakh has been submitted to the central government under this scheme.

UNI